Many thanks to Gerry Lingle (Class of 1960) and our fellow class members who compiled this history of Avondale's 1963 AAA Football Championship year.  They assembled newspaper articles and memories from those unforgettable months.  The document below is long (about 162 pages) but fascinating to me (Jewell McMorris).  I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes on the football field.  The material below left me with even more admiration for what our Blue Devils did in 1963 in Death Valley.  We wish we had as much information about our other Blue Devils' seasons as we do for the football team.  Anyone who has any memorabilia for our teams (including Band, Drill Team, Cheerleaders as well as sports teams) is encouraged to get in touch (Go to "Contact Us" on the menu on the left) so that we can include it on the website.  

To make it easier to navigate the document below, here are links to important events:

PRESEASON -- Reloading team after 1963 graduations

REGULAR SEASON

Avondale Zips by Brown (35-6)

Avondale Nudges Fighting Gordon (13-6)

Chapman "Team" Lifts Westminster to Victory (0-7)

R. E. Lee Opportunity Knocks, Avondale Opens the Door (7-3)

Decatur Becomes Ramsey's 100th Kill (21-6)

Cross Keys Buried by Avondale (21-7)

Blue Devils Defang SW DeKalb Panthers (34-14)

Avondale Chills Briarcliff Barons (36-0)

Avondale Zips Druid Hills (34-0)

PLAYOFFS

Avondale "Avalanche" Buries Decatur Bulldogs Deep (42-12)

Devils Settle a Debt, Rap Westminster 28-0 [Game postponed after 11/22/63 events]

8000 Watch North Fulton Fall (34-0)

Mighty Avondale Unloads on Stunned Moultrie (40-0)

David Cooper's tribute to Rocky Adams.

EPILOGUE

 

AVONDALE  ROSE  AGAIN IN 1963
The football team that Coach Calvin Ramsey was to field in 1963 confronted him with a familiar dilemma—reloading the team with only a few proven players after graduating most of Avondale’s talent from teams that had either advanced in the playoffs or had been projected as playoff contenders. Often the teams with the lowest pre-season ratings were fueled by a new cast of players who rose above expectations and into the playoffs. This is a saga about the  remarkable 1963 team that went from being a “Lazaraus”, who was summoned by Coach Calvin Ramsey to perform a miraculous transformation from a squad with lowly prospects that he coached to finish the season with dominating wins and the AAA State Championship:

• The1958 team returned only four lettermen, after the 1957 team featuring Jit Reinhardt (halfback) and Stanley Bell (tackle) graduated the primary talent that enabled the Blue Devils to play Rockmart for the North Georgia AA championship, where the fell short with a 13-6 loss. The 1958 Avondale edition, led by halfbacks  David Browning and Wilburn Williamson, quarterback Frank James and tackle Kit Bell earned a Georgia AA co-championship when Thomasville came from behind to tie up the score 13-13.
• The 1960 team returned four stars from the 1959 team that had been ranked #1 in AA football for most of the season until falling to Gainesville 13-12 and losing the only play-off berth in sub-region 4-AA east. The 1960 squad competed in class AAA  for the first time, led by quarterback Ed “Charlie” Pritchett, tackle Calvin Lott, linebacker Mike Herron, and a host of talent that emerged. The Blue Devils surged past North Fulton  for the North Georgia AAA championship to face Valdosta for the AAA state championship. Avondale’s valiant efforts barely fell short in the final seconds by 20-13.
• The 1963 team was faced with another rebuilding project after 15 of Avondale’s 16 best players, including fullback Tommy Carlisle, guard Jimmy Cooley , and captain Dayton Johnson graduated from the vaunted 1962 team that was highly ranked in both the state and national polls. Halfback David Cooper was joined by many players who had risen from reserve status on the 1962 squad, illustrating once again that Avondale had a great feeder system for developing talent with a robust desire to win. Little was expected or known about the potential of the 1963 Blue Devils. In pre-season interviews, Coach Ramsey voiced much caution:
• “This season can go either way.” 
• “If you ask me right now how we’ll be, my answer  would have to be simply, ‘Real weak.’”
•    “We lost too heavily to be a serious title threat.”

Defying all expectations, the 1963 band of football brothers jelled into a champion. The way the Blue Devils played against R.E. Lee, one week after a disappointing loss to Westminster,  to pull out a 7-3 hard-fought victory in Thomaston led the players to declare that Friday night, “This is when we became men.”

A Cautious Calvin Ramsey Approaches 1963 As Next  Member of Century Club

Ramsey’s Rugged Devils
AJC, 08/11/1963-- Portrait of a winner as a cautious man…that’s Calvin Ramsey, football coach at Avondale High School. After 12 years at the DeKalb County school, Ramsey takes an over-all 96-26-6 record and three Region 4-AAA titles into 1963, pointing out that a basic lack of experience is bound to make his 13th year in Atlanta an unlucky one.  “We have lost 15 of our  top 16 boys to graduation. I’m not kidding when I say that a lot of the younger fellows will have to mature in three weeks before we can be considered a contender, “ Ramsey says.

The Blue Devils, who were 9-0 last season until upset by Decatur in the Region playoffs, start practice August 12 and Ramsey has invited 45 boys to the opening session. “This season can go either way. There’s some pretty good talent coming along from the B-team and if they can jell in time, we can be troublesome.  Otherwise we might have trouble winning four games.” It was sort of Freudian that Ramsey should mention four games. He needs that many games to reach his ambition of 100 victories in his career. “Yeah, I know about that. My wife figured up my record the other day. I guess my slogan in 1963 will be ‘100 or bust,’” he joked.

The 38-year old disciple of the slot-back formation won region titles in 1957, 1958, and 1960, meeting Valdosta for the state AAA title in 1960. “Many of the boys on last year’s squad played in the 1960 game. I sure hate to see them go. They were a great bunch, with a real good winning attitude.” The winning attitude that Ramsey speaks of is a big part of Avondale High School with a 2,000-plus enrollment. School spirit is very high and a tradition of winning has been engrained in the football program since Ramsey took over.
“We’ll have a lot of juniors on the squad, some seniors and a few sophomores, but most of them have not played much. We will have to cover up a lot of mistakes with spirit, hustle and desire, but fortunately I have never had any trouble getting effort out of the boys here. The Avondale attitude, in general, has been a good one.” Ramsey expects the 1963 Blue Devils to be about the same  size as the 1962 team, with bigger tackles and smaller guards. As it stands now, the starting tackles, starting guards and starting center will be up from last year’s  unbeaten B-team (5-0).

David Cooper, a well-built halfback and the only returning starter, is Ramsey’s rage at this stage. “If Cooper isn’t one of the best backs in Georgia then I’d like to see the ones who are better. He does it all. Thank goodness he’s back.” Fullback Steve Mills, an experienced junior (whch is a rare thing indeed in the Avondale scheme) also returns as does defensive tackle Frank Owens, a 190-pound senior. The rest of the slots are up for grabs on August 12th.

We always have  a good group of boys out and a lot of talent to look over on opening day. Frankly, I’m anticipating plenty of competition for starting berths and, if the boys mature, we’ll be all right. But if you ask me right now how we’ll be, my answer  would have to be simply, ‘Real weak,’” said a cautious Ramsey, who has learned in 12 years that a lot of premature words and winning don’t necessarily mix.

The Blue Devils Projected Line Up

The pride never wanes when we think about Avondale football, especially the 1963 AAA championship season, which was Avondale’s first outright, unshared championship. This is a championship that belongs to the entire AHS student body—the football team won it on the field, but had the support of cheerleaders, band, drill team, and fans. All Blue Devils are invited to share their memories to assure that the whole story is told from all perspectives—players, cheerleaders, drill team, and fans. Jerry Conner (AHS 1964) e-mailed his enthusiastic anticipation about this series: “Wow, 50 years ago!  I can remember watching a prep preseason show on TV on which Coach Ramsey was interviewed along with several other prominent coaches in the Atlanta area.  When asked about his chances, coach Ramsey grimly pointed out all the losses from a very good 1962 team and how all the holes would have to be filled by untested players. He made it seem that his prospects were bleak.  Finally, one of the other coaches said, ‘Well he is coming off a losing season, they did lose one game’.   That stinging loss to Decatur by a single point had not only ended the season, but also was our first loss in Death Valley.  You had to think in the back of your mind that maybe reality and the competition were closing in on us.  Unfortunately for our foes, a resolve to excel and a pride in the tradition of Avondale football was to launch a magical season.  That feeling and expectation was alive in each and every player and overflowed to the entire student body all connected with the school.  It's a great idea to relive the season game by game.  I know a I'm ready.” Your memories of the 1963 football season will be reawakened by weekly reports submitted by two proud Blue Devils—Gerry Lingle (AHS 1960) will provide the play-by-play accounts from archival news clippings and editorial support. GLENN JOHNSON (AHS 1964) will provide the “color” by drawing on his fantastic memory of events and insight into the makeup of the team. Andy Odom (AHS 1964) agrees that GLENN has more than a great memory: “Although Glenn has without a doubt the best memory of the events, he will not tell you about his contributions to the team, not only on the field, but in the locker room.  He was the consummate teammate, supporting and  encouraging everyone.  Maybe someone more eloquent can add some stories about GLENN.” Join us now, as the series continues below, and be encouraged to share your memories as Jerry Conner did..

Ramsey Banks on Cooper in Green Year at Avondale

Devils Lose 15 Off ’62 Squad
AJC, 8/21/1963—Calvin Ramsey knows a lot about Georgia high school  football, so you should  lend an ear to what he says: “There’s not a pine tree in Georgia if David Cooper is not the best halfback in the state. The Boy has great agility and tremendous balance. He’s a great blocker, our fastest runner and a good pass receiver. He’s even a fine  passer, although we don’t use him in that capacity very much. Also, he’s the high school wrestling champion of Georgia and Alabama, and he can handle  men who are a lot bigger than he is. He’s a tremendous athlete.”

Unfortunately for Ramsey and Avondale, Cooper is the only boy back from the top 16 of last year’s great team, which many considered—and Ramsey still does—the best in North Georgia. That team swept undefeated through the regular season only to be upset 7-6 by rival Decatur in its first playoff game.
Joining Cooper (160-pound senior) in the Blue Devil backfield this year will be either Ray Myers (170-pounds) or junior Mike Colvard (150) at quarterback, either senior Andy Odom (160) or junior Brad Johnson (170) at the other halfback slot and junior Steve Mills (170) at fullback. Ramsey considers Myers a better passer than Colvard, But Colvard the superior ball handler.

The end posts will be manned  by Ricky Black (185) and Harold Bright (160) on offense. Eddie Sanders (145) and John Mangrum (185) on Defense. Junior James Sharp (210) will play both ways at one tackle spot, opposite David Bentley (190) on offense and Frank Owens (190) on defense. Bill Jonson (155)  leads a five-man battle with George Veal  (165), Bob Bowen (165), Ed Spencer (170) and Paul Brinsfield (175) for the guard positions. Center will be held by Bruce Mather (140) on offense and Stanley Anderson on defense. Anderson, a 185-pound senior is considered by Ramsey to be the top lineman on the team. The punting will be done by Johnson or Mangrum and the kicking probably by sub quarterback GLENN JOHNSON (160-pound senior).

“We lost too heavily to be a serious title threat,” Ramsey says. “R.E. Lee should be the best team on our side  of the region and Decatur or Southwest DeKalb on the other side.”

The Preseason Build Up

David  Cooper explains "The making of the championship team started at the beginning of the summer. Glen Johnson, Ray Myers,  and several others started meeting at the football field to have fun and get the timing for a variety of plays before summer practice began. As the weeks went by, more and more guys joined in so that many afternoons and weekends, there would be 20+ players at the field working on conditioning, learning plays, and improving the timing needed for a lot of the plays that would be used during the season. The informal practices helped us, not only to improve abilities,  but also helped to build a bond between the players that became a major factor in making the 1963 season into a championship season.  I have to add (as a personal note) that Mickey Lingle (team trainer) was also there. He and I changed the habit of going to his house to make milkshakes before ballgames into making them anytime that we were hot and/or thirsty. I will never forget the hospitality his family always provided despite the mess we usually made of their kitchen.”

How the Starters on the Roster Changed

Glenn Johnson provides an interesting view on the way certain players emerged to claim starting positions on the 1963 squad compared to Coach Ramsey’s preseason projections: “I was amused by the fact that Lanny Asamoto, who won ‘Back of the Week’ one week during the season, and Steve Allen, our 1963 team Captain and a defensive starter on the 1962 team were not mentioned in the article as offensive players. I maintained then, and still do, that we had the best stable of running backs in the state that year with the four Seniors and several Juniors (Brad Johnson, Gary West, Grant Strauss, etc.)  and the best pair of fullbacks in Steve Mills and Wade Wilkes. The only concern we had was finding people to block for them. The entire interior offensive line was manned by Juniors who had just moved up from the B-Team. The only Senior linemen played the end positions. The coaching staff did a great job of getting these  guys ready to play after we lost so many good linemen from the 1962 team” In Glenn’s role of back-up quarterback, which he got to play a lot in the numerous blowout games, he also served as the PAT kicker—scoring on 43 of 48 attempts plus one run for a PAT. Glenn explains how roster projections changed: “Coach Ramsey was good at finding positions for players who showed the willingness to work hard.”

1963 Was More Than a Rebuilding Year

Glenn Johnson gives an inside look at the organization of the team-- The 1963 football season was more than a rebuilding year, since Coach Ramsey installed a new offense and defense. The offensive changes were not so drastic, involving  a shift from  a “double wing T” formation featuring two slot backs to a “wing T” with only one slot back with the other back (David Cooper) lined up next to the fullback as in a normal “T” formation. This alignment gave the opportunity to run “dive” plays into the interior of the line by the halfback, which could not be done with two slot backs. Initially the slot back position was set up as a 3-man committee with Steve Allen, Andy Odom and Lanny Asamoto. About half way through the season Coach installed a split end formation where the “weak side” end (opposite the slot back side) would split out like a split end in the pros.  Steve Allen moved to the split end position to take advantage of his speed, which paid off with touchdown pass receptions in the Moultrie game.  Eddie Sanders, the regular weak side end, moved to defense where his ferociousness was an asset. With those changes, Lanny and Andy manned the slot back position with Lanny getting most of the play on offense because Andy was a stalwart on defense. These changes allowed optimal use of Blue Devil talent while keeping players fresh. The biggest change was on defense where the formation changed from a 6-2 to a 5-4 defense with only two deep defensive backs. The 5-4 put more line backers closer to the line of scrimmage to defend against the run since there were not many “passing quarterbacks” in those days. The best move  Coach made all year involved the move of Wade Wilkes from fullback to defensive tackle. Since Steve Mills, who was probably the best blocking back to play for Avondale,  was solidly entrenched as fullback, Wade brought  back’s speed to the position. Although he was good at stopping the run, he was a holy terror on passing downs. The opposing offensive linemen were not used to seeing Wade’s speed, so he broke down many pass plays with his rush on quarterbacks. This move solidified a dominating defense that had to rank at the top, considering just our last six games (the last three regular season and the three playoff games) only one team, Decatur, even scored on us, with a point total differential of 214 to 14 points!
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964

ANTICIPATION OF THE 1963 SEASON GROWS

This Atlanta Journal article followed the earlier Atlanta Constitution introduction of the 1963 edition of the Blue Devils. While the subject matter is the same, the details are presented with some differences. Stephanie Strand Blomeyer (AHS 1964) remembers how each newspaper article  about the upcoming 1963 season made her feel about the start of the football season: “Each year we ALL felt the anticipation and excitement  of Autumn when we could cheer our Blue Devils and their excellence!” After the season started, Saturday newspapers were immediately opened to the sports page where we would read about the exploits of our grid iron heroes and another victory. Since we knew our football players on sight and knew many of them from classes and activities, we had a personal connection with them and their achievements. All Blue Devils could hardly wait for the first kick off because this meant that the band and drill team would march on to the sacred turf known as “Death Valley”, the cheerleaders rallied fans for support, and fans (students, teachers, and parents) would rock the stadium with their enthusiastic support. What more could anyone ask to bond a school and community together? That may have been true long ago, but we still share that bond and relish the memories. We are now in the count down for the opening game against the Brown High Rebels set for Saturday, September 14th at Death Valley.

Meanwhile summer practices continued with conditioning in the morning and with learning new offensive and defensive sets in the afternoon. Glenn Johnson describes the practices where the fundamentals of the game were perfected and a simple game plan was developed: “We were such a young team , Coach made sure we knew the plays by running a play several times before we would move on to the next play. We would run one play so many times that we dreamed about it in our sleep. We didn’t install a lot of plays in the beginning. The additional plays would come later in the season as we prepared for each opponent. For the Brown game, I doubt that we ran  more than a half dozen plays— standard pass plays, some off-tackle plays for Cooper, some dive plays for Mills, and a few plays for the slot backs—and that was it. As the Brown game turned out, we didn’t need any more plays. We were a hard team to scout because we never had to use any razzle-dazzle plays since we did such a good job of running the bread and butter plays. Even though our opponents knew the standard plays we ran, they could not prepare for the few trick plays the Coach added each week.”
 

Ramsey Riding Tall, But Not for a Fall
Cooper-led Avondale Faces Crucial “First Four Weeks of Season”
Atlanta Journal, August 21, 1963—Calvin Ramsey is the kind of man that folks call a “winner”. Calvin doesn’t like to lose and rarely does. In 1962 Avondale lost no games during regular season play but lost to bitter rival Decatur in  the playoffs 7-6, Avondale would like to blot out that memory with a 4-AAA championship in 1963. Are the Devils good enough? Ramsey won’t make any predictions, but one coach said, “Ramsey isn’t going to have a poor team ever. He lost a lot of talent and has only six lettermen returning, but he has some talent coming up from the jayvees, and with halfback  David Cooper anything could happen.” Another coach said, “ I don’t think Avondale will be as tough as last year. I look for R.E. Lee in 4-AAA East and Decatur in 4-AAA West, as this year’s top two.”  Ramsey himself considers, “Our first four weeks will make or break us. If our youngsters make it through this ‘experience’ trial, we’ll be in pretty good shape. Quarterback is our biggest question  mark right now. Ray Myers (6 feet, 170-pound Senior) and Mike Colvard (5-10, 155-pound Junior) are having a hot competition for the job. Myers played some varsity ball in 1962 and may have the edge on Colvard as a passer. On the other hand, Colvard could be a better field general.”

Tailback are a strong point with David Cooper, Lanny Asamoto, and Steve Allen. Cooper, a 5-9 160 pound Senior,  was an all-stater and is a cinch to repeat in 1963. Asamoto is a quick-to-the-hole, tippy-toe-in-a-broken field runner, a threat any time he puts his hands on the ball. He is a 5-8 150 pound Senior. Allen will work at both tailback and wingback, or slot back. A quick lad, Steve is also a threat in a broken field maneuver. Fullback will be up for grabs between Steve Mills (5-10, 165-pound Junior) who is the squad’s  top blocking back, and Wade Wilkes (5-11, 185-pound Senior), a hard-running power runner. Wingback will see, in addition to Allen, Andy Odom and Brad Johnson—all three are good pass receivers. In the line, Avondale’s projected starters are : Ends—Ricky Black and Harold Bright on offense and Eddie Sanders and John Mangrum on defense. Tackles—James Sharpe, Frank Owen and David Bentley are the current leaders at this point. Guards—Bob Bowen, Edwin Spencer, Bill Johnson, George Veal and Paul Brinsfield, all up from the 1962 Bees, are waging a battle  for the opening two posts. 
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS

Avondale to Host Brown
The Atlanta Journal reported: “One of the top games  scheduled in the entire season in the Atlanta area will be held Saturday night, September 14th  at Avondale Stadium when the Avondale Blue Devils take on the Brown High Rebels.” This was a rare Saturday game for Avondale—the only other Saturday game up to that time was for the North Georgia championship in 1958 which the Blue Devils won by penetration 9-7. Glenn Johnson recalls, “Avondale played only 9 regular season games in 1963 because Coach Ramsey couldn't get anyone to play us.  We had the requisite region games but had a hard time scheduling out-of-region  games.  Brown was a home-and-home series and we had played them the year before at Cheney Stadium where David Cooper had his coming out party.  Brown was supposed to win the Atlanta city championship in 1962 but after we beat them, they never recovered.  Murphy High won the north Georgia championship, because they didn't have to play us in 1962 after we were eliminated by Decatur 7-6. .Anyway, Brown and Westminster were our only non region games in '63 and they were both home-and-home series.  We just couldn't get anybody to play us, under any conditions.”  Perhaps there would have been a Sept. 6th or 7th game if a tenth team would have agreed to play us, thus Avondale ended up with its first game with Brown High on September 14th. With the season starting a week later than usual, you can imagine how much our Blue Devils were “itching” for the first game against a quality opponent.

Stephanie’s “Brown Connection”
Stephanie  Strand Blomeyer (AHS 1964) had an interesting connection to Brown High: “Some of you probably don't know that I transferred from Brown High School to Avondale in October, 1961. I had attended elementary school with Lamar Melvin and Buddy Cotton (and cheered their football games!). They were joined in what would have been the Class of '64 at Brown High by Gene Buyers,  Bill Kinnard, Tommy Brown, Larry King and Mark Leavell. Until 1961 a Varsity Line Coach named Crawford Kennedy, who was listed in the Brown "Laureate"  yearbook, was also my Math teacher. The very first person I encountered on my first day at AHS was Coach Kennedy. I was walking into the school and must have had a sort of dazed look on my face . . . especially when Coach Kennedy called out ‘Stephanie, what are you doing here at Avondale’  From that day on, the REBEL (blue and grey) became a BLUE DEVIL (blue and white), and I never looked back!”

The Broken Gold Toe
If you don’t know what haunted Coach Ramsey the most, consider that his Blue Devils suffered two losses by a single point in 1959 and 1962. Missed extra points caused Avondale to lose to Gainesville 13-12 and Decatur by 7-6. Both teams were highly ranked and loaded with experience and talent and were expected to make a deep run in the playoffs and possibly win state championships. The untested talent of and questions about the 1963 Blue Devils must have made Coach Ramsey believe that he needed a reliable place kicker more than ever. Glenn Johnson reveals a story that most team mates did not know about: “I worked at the Mill on Saturdays with several Scottdale friends who had parents that worked at the Mill. The week before the Brown game, I dropped a roller (part of a loom) on my foot and broke the toe next to the big toe on my right kicking foot. When I told Coach Ramsey about the injury, he had a fit. He said, ’Scottdale, we can’t go home with you and baby-sit you. You have got to take care of yourself ’.“ The situation Glenn describes will give you an idea of the competition for any starting position on the team and his efforts to hold his position in spite of the injury: “Since Paul Brinsfield was breathing down my neck for the kicking job, I was scared to death. I believe the only reason I got to kick in the Brown game was that I had kicked some the year before when Steve Almond went through a slump. To protect my toe, I cut two small pies of foam padding and put them on both sides of the broken toe, then I wrapped the whole foot in tape. The injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the problem made me focus more so that I would kick the football on the ‘sweet spot’ and not hurt the toe as I kicked. I knew that if I wavered, I would be replaced—but to my surprise I would go on to kick all five PATs against Brown. The wrapped toes worked so well that I continued doing it for the rest of the year, even after the toe healed. A few weeks later Coach Ramsey told me, ‘Maybe we need to break your toe every week.’ This is just one of several exchanges that I had with Coach, but this one had me walking on air and helped to make everything worthwhile.” This toe injury is a case when fear was a good motivation, because the lesson learned was to be determined to be successful in spite of a setback. Coach Ramsey had a way of motivating and building character through his ‘win at all costs’ approach to the game.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964

Avondale Drowns Brown 35-6 on Muddy Field
Avondale’s rock-hard defense held highly regarded Brown High to one score in a 35-6 thrashing.  A steady drizzle and muddy field did not slow down the Blue Devil’s speedy backs who churned out 347 yards. Lightning struck, not from the sky but from long touchdown runs by David Cooper (66 and 67 yard runs) and Andy Odom (67 yard run). Avondale’s offense performed with precision and moved the ball steadily despite the grinding fight the Rebels put up.

 
AVONDALE ZIPS BY BROWN, 35-6
Cooper Runs Wild, Scores 3 TDs Behind Mighty Blue Devil Line
AJC, Sunday, September 15, 1963--  It was quick, painless—Brown High’s football demise Saturday night.. Before the Rebels could say, “David Cooper just ran 66 yards for a touchdown,” he had, and an inter-regional AAA, mismatch had started. For the record, the final score was Avondale High 35, Brown 6. Off the record, it was Cooper and the leg-men linemen who made it so. Running behind a line like Avondale’s, it’s a wonder Cooper and his talented backfield teammates ever are tackled. Saturday night they weren’t tackled very often. After three Brown runs and a Mack Brown punt, Cooper started the scoring on the first Blue Devil scrimmage play. Through a hole magnanimously provided by David Bentley, Cooper squirted for 66 yards  and his first touchdown of the night. Before the night was over, the 155-pound halfback was to score twice more, both times on the ground and on runs of 2 and 67 yards. His longest effort was aided more than adequately by the strong but muddy blocking shoulders of Dennis Long, George Veal and Bruce Mather, a tackle, guard and center who, on the second play of the final period worked the crossbuck to perfection.
YARDSTICK
Brown (6)                                           Avondale (35)
3                      First Downs                 14
92                    Yards Rushing            347
15                    Yards Passing             14       
60                    Yards Penalized          70
Cooper’s  long-distance scoring  for the Blue Devils was complimented by another halfback Andy Odom, who outran the Rebels for 67 yards in the second quarter. Quarterback Mike Colvard added “icing to Avondale’s victory cake” when he bucked  through the Rebels on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter. Glenn Johnson was perfect with PAT kicks after each of the Blue Devil’s touchdowns. Brown’s only scoring reply occurred due to an offensive miscue when a 184-pound hulk of a tackle named Tommy Allen scooped up an attempted forward pass that was ruled an Avondale fumble in the third quarter. He showed the Blue Devils his heels as he splashed down the field for 82 yards. By the way, that was a slow 82-yard run.  Allen had a habit of being around the ball. Of the four fumbles Avondale lost, he recovered all four of them. Lamar Melvin caused two of the fumbles with ferocious tackles. Brown could not organize its forces  to gain a first down during the final 24 minutes because of Avondale’s  bestial defense during the second half. The Blue Devil defensive unit finished the game with a perfect defensive effort that did not allow a touchdown.
Score by Quarters:
Brown               0         0          6            0--   6
Avondale         14        7          0          14—35
Brown Scoring: TDs— Tommy Allen (82, fumble recovery and run)
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  David Cooper 3 (66, run; 2, run; 67, run); Andy Odom (67, run) ; Mike Colvard (1, run) ; PATs—Glenn Johnson 5 (kicks)

Inside the Huddle
The eleven players on the field often had a better understanding, insight  and appreciation for plays than observers from the sidelines or in the stands. Harold Bright (AHS 1965) recalls Andy Odom’s outstanding 67-yard touchdown run in the Brown game: “I'll never forget a run he made, which was the greatest I saw in a game at Avondale. We saw the run in the game films because Coach Goza ran it back and forth for us numerous times. There were some great runs by our backs at Avondale... David Cooper made some of the most miraculous from a gymnastic viewpoint, but all-in-all, 'Andy's Run' was the greatest because of the sheer determination, broken tackles, and a never-quit effort that Andy demonstrated on the run. Andy Odom recalls the run: “I believe I was a little upset that I didn't start on offense and as soon as I got the chance to play I was determined to make the best of it. Coach Goza  joked that Brown had too many men on the field because he counted 14 players that hit me.” Perhaps Andy was impersonating the Incredible Hulk when he unleashed his emotions on his memorable run.

Since this was the first game of the season and there were so many new players in their first varsity game, Glenn Johnson addresses the way the team overcame any nervousness: “The best way to get over the jitters is to enjoy instant success. For example David Cooper scored on a 66-yard run on the first offensive play from scrimmage. The defense got off to a fast start by stopping Brown’s offense cold on their first possession after the opening kick off.” Glen gives some background on Cooper’s first TD: “Ray Meyers and I always talked about what plays to call in what situations. On the night of the Brown game, I told Ray that they would probably be keying on Cooper so I suggested that he call a play for Mills. But in his exuberance over the defensive stand followed by the good punt return Cooper made, Ray walked into the huddle and looked at Cooper and said, ‘Are you ready?’ David didn’t say ‘yeah’, he said ‘Hell yeah’. Thus, on the first offensive play of the season, Cooper  ran for a 66-yard TD—after that we were sky high.” George Veal  (AHS 1965) recalls his baptism as a player: “This was my first game as a starter and I was nervous. Prior to the game, all kinds of thoughts run through your head. What if we get beat in our first game as starters in Avondale stadium,etc. When David Cooper ran that first play for a touchdown it was a great relief.  I played most of the game. In the second half, fatigue began to set in and I struggled to survive in the fourth quarter. I was delighted that Brown was a pushover. Little did I know that the monster game would be coming soon to test our fortitude to the limit.”  George’s experience was shared by most new starters—but after the initial play they always settled down and never looked back.

While Avondale’s offense was very productive, it was not perfect. The newspaper reported that Avondale coughed up four fumbles. Glenn gives an explanation on what caused some of the fumbles: “ On one fumble, Ray was dropping back to pass, but a missed block on a defensive end allowed him to force a fumble that was picked up by Tommy Allen for a touchdown. Brown scored, but not on the first string defense. Due to timing on another play, a pulling guard ran into Ray when he was attempting a pitchout on a sweep play. I guar-on-tee you, these mistakes were not repeated for the whole year.”

Quote: This quote from Lou Holtz when he coached at Arkansas expresses part of Coach Ramsey’s philosophy-- "Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated."  Summer two-a-day practices served the same purpose—to identify those players who were committed to the program.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964

COOPER BEST AS BACK, RAMSEY IS TOP COACH
Atlanta Journal, Monday, September 16, 1963—A young man with wings on his feet gets The Journal’s top pick as the Back of the Week. And that’s not all. His coach is Coach of the Week. David Cooper, Avondale Express, is Back of the Week. Last Saturday night, he traveled up and down Avondale Stadium like an elevator, scoring three touchdowns and leading his team to a rousing 35-6 victory over Brown. Cooper’s scoring runs were for distances of two, 66, and 67 yards. For the victory posted by his team, Avondale’s Calvin Ramsey is the Coach of the Week. Ramsey, one of the state’s most successful coaches, faced the 1963 season with heavy graduation losses of talented starters and had many questions about his new crop of players. The question, it seems, has been answered.

NOTHING BLUE ABOUT THE DEVILS
Cooper-Led Avondale Strides Like Giant in State
Atlanta Journal, Wednesday, September 18, 1963—It seems every year starts the same  for Avondale High School. They finish  the year before with one of the most outstanding records in the state, but graduation takes a lot of boys. Speculation abounds on just how good the Blue Devils will be the following season. The same situation existed at Avondale  as the 1963 season began. Saturday night, Avondale started its football season as though the question had never been asked. The Devils worked over Brown 35-6. Though people had suspected victory for Avondale, it was not expected to be by such a large margin.

Avondale has a lot to be thankful for this season. It has a tradition, as rich as any school around. It has David Cooper. It has line coach Ray Meyers. The Devils have seven men on the front line who are given to the proposition that they can be as good or better than the seven who threw up a  stout forward wall last season. Cooper, who is a halfback, is not the biggest man on the field. Nor is he the fastest of foot, though his speed is more than creditable. The 160-pounder does have something that few runners have, though. He has balance, amazing balance and strength that enables him to remain upright when hit. And he can wiggle better than most. It was he, practically alone, who broke Brown’s back last weekend. He scored three times, one from two yards out, twice for more than 60 yards. Too, he had a 80-yard score recalled.  Ray Meyers, the quarterback, is the man  most people are worrying about. As a starter, he  was not the most experienced man Avondale ever had, playing sparingly last season. Meyers proved himself Saturday night  as he ran his teammates with authority and handled all of the chores asked of him. Myers and Cooper also have tremendous backfield support with slotback Brad Johnson and fullback Steve Mills completing the backfield quartet. Then the Blue Devils have Andy Odom and Lanny Asamoto prepared to assume full duty anytime.

David’s further recognition as “Back of the Week”
Mickey Lingle (AHS 1964) explains how David Cooper gained some unexpected, but beneficial recognition: “One day after the Brown game, David and I skipped school to appear in the Fulton County traffic court for a speeding ticket. We were engaged in a conversation with a gentleman that turned out to be the court Bailiff. He was familiar with the game and  knew of David’s big role in the game. As court began and the judge entered the courtroom, the Bailiff pointed us out to the judge. When David was called to the front of the bench the judge asked to see the ticket. I had the ticket along with another ticket from DeKalb County. Since I had never been in front of a judge in a packed courtroom, I was so flustered that I handed the judge the wrong {DeKalb Co.} ticket. After giving the Fulton Co. ticket to the judge, I was so petrified that I do not remember what he said. I do know that David got off and believe the judge and  Bailiff were not Brown High fans.” One can imagine that the judge might have advised David to limit his speeding to the football field—the record shows that he took the judge’s advice.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960

AVONDALE NUDGES FIGHTING GORDON
Atlanta Constitution, September 21, 1963—Avondale beat Gordon as expected Friday night, but the manner in which the 13-6 victory was accomplished was not as convincing, nor the play as crisp, as one usually associates with the usual Blue Devil exhibition.  A halfback of destiny did shine, however, and in so doing Avondale’s David Cooper annulled any upset notions the Gordon Generals may have harbored. Cooper danced the light fantastic, over, around and through Gordon for 118 yards on 10 carries in the first half, then added 87 more after the intermission. He, of course, was principally responsible for moving the ball within the shadows  of Gordon’s goal, and Blue Devil fullback Steve Mills finished matters by rushing for two touchdowns. In the third quarter, Mills broke through from six yards out and Glenn Johnson kicked the extra point.  In the fourth quarter Mills bucked for two yards across the Gordon goal-line. Avondale did as usual, present a defense of solid proportion which held the General skirmishes to 35 scant ground yards.
YARDSTICK
Gordon (6)                                         Avondale (13)
2                      First Downs                 14
35                    Yards Rushing            247
77                    Yards Passing             27       
15                    Yards Penalized          50
Gordon mounted a strong drive  early in the game and pushed the Blue Devils back close to their own goal, but the stout Avondale line held. The Generals  had no more luck with another drive in the second quarter. A bit of anxiety was induced in the crowd at Avondale, however, when a veil of white-shirted Generals pounced on a stray Avondale  fumble on the Blue Devil’s 12-yard line, then Jay Gable quickly pitched to Jack Wilson for the score halfway through the final quarter.
Score by Quarters:
Gordon            0          0          0          6 -- 6
Avondale         0          0          7          6—13
Gordon  Scoring: TD— Jack Wilson (12 yard pass from Jay Gable)
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  Steve Mills, 2 (6, run; 2, run);  PATs—Glenn Johnson 1 (placement kick)
 

Odom’s Challenge to the Team and More
George Veal  remembers  that the Gordon game had a special importance for him: “I had moved from the Gordon school district to Avondale at the beginning of the eighth grade. I knew and had grown up with several of the Gordon players and students in the stands. I really played my heart out. I knew that we had played well on defense, but didn't remember that we had held them to only two first downs. After the Brown game I thought we were going to have a good year, but now I was wondering, ‘ was Gordon that good or are we just not a very good team’. What I now know is that a defense will always mature quicker than an offense. I think our defense was ready, but our offense  was still trying to find its identity and, as we know, they became unstoppable as the season progressed.”

Glenn Johnson recalls the aftermath of the sub-standard Blue Devil performance against Gordon: “When we reached the dressing room after the game, Andy Odom spoke up and challenged us to go back out on the practice field. The seniors joined in . . . the juniors had no choice (just joking).  Andy wasn't the official captain (that was Steve Allen, who was quiet but led by example), but he was the vocal leader and conscience of the team who made sure that no one slacked off or lost focus when we were practicing or playing.” Andy gives some thoughts on the impromptu practice: “ Perhaps we headed to the practice field because we expected to get it at the next practice on Monday if we didn’t show we were being serious about our football. We were excited as we headed to the practice field, but it was mostly symbolic since we didn’t stay long. The gesture showed how much we wanted to win and to get ready for Westminster the following week.”  The physical toll the game took out of motivated players who had been coached to give 110% is described by George: “I remember that after the game I was beat up and exhausted. When Andy came up with the practice idea, I thought  ‘you have got to be crazy’. I wasn't sure that I was physically able to play or practice anymore even if I wanted to. Fortunately, Coach Ramsey saved the day and said, ‘forget it’.” David Cooper describes the punishment he got from the Generals: ” After the Gordon game, I recall that I was somewhat banged up. I had a sprained ankle, bruised ribs, and a hip pointer.”  Glenn adds more details to the ‘player-called practice’: “Coach Ramsey didn’t want us to do any contact work because he was concerned that that someone might get injured. Coach told us to be sure to have the same attitude Monday when we resumed practice. On Monday, we were milling around waiting for practice to start when Coach Ramsey came out and asked, ‘Where is the enthusiasm y’all showed after the game Friday night?’ He never had to remind us of that again.”

Quote: Bear Bryant of Alabama said,  "I make my practices real hard because, if a player is a quitter, I want him to quit in practice, not in a game."  George  says he heard this from Coach Ramsey: “Trust me, Coach Ramsey spoke these same words. This is why I am an Alabama fan.” They definitely shared a hard-nosed approach that produced character and winners.

Prep Stars of the Week : Steve Mills  and David Cooper in Avondale’s win against Gordon.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964
George Veal—AHS 1965

Westminster Eyes Avondale Revenge

AAA Clash Pits Undefeated Elevens
The Atlanta Journal, 09/26/1963-- All eyes will be focused on the Avondale-Westminster game set for Friday night as the Blue Devils invade Westminster. The match pits two unbeatables and should bring into focus just a wee bit more as to who are the powers of 4-AAA East and 5-AAA West. In two contests, Avondale has swept Brown 35-6 and Gordon 13-6 with David Cooper doing most of the damage. Westminster has posted three impressive victories against South Cobb 20-7, Marist 32-0, and top-flight Athens. Westminster feels that it has an issue to settle with the Blue Devils after losing last year’s battle, 19-7. Coach Charlie Brake believes that this year’s Wildcats are potentially superior to his 1962 5-AAA West kings. While Westminster appears to be well on their way to another 5-AAA title, they will get a tough test from the Blue Devils. Coach Calvin Ramsey’s 4-AAA squad will throw a speedy Wing-T attack at the Wildcats, featuring the running of 155-pound David Cooper. The heavier Westminster club will display the passing of Tommy Chapman and the catching ability of veteran end Taylor Branch. For added measure, 235-pound fullback Earl Seagraves will pound out yardage.

Chapman “Team” Lifts Westminster to Victory
91-Yard Return Nips Avondale, 7-0
The Atlanta Journal, September 15, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Westminster whipped Avondale in a battle of previously unconquered Georgia high school football giants on Friday night , 7-0, with a two-team system—a father-son team. Buck Chapman, a Bear Bryant protégé who has been defensive coach of Charlie Brake’s  Wildcats for three years, fashioned the defense that completely  shackled the powerful  Blue Devils and all-state candidate David Cooper. Tommy Chapman, Buck’s quarterbacking offspring, supplied the offense with a brilliant 91-yard kickoff return at the start of the second half. Specialist Reid Conyers toed the extra point after young Chapman’s spectacular, zig-zag canter. Then the over-flow crowd  at the Westminster field settled back to witness one of  the great defensive  wrangles of any season. Paul Rogers and Kirk Blackwood, 206 and 217-pound tackles; 187-pound end Taylor Branch; and 170-pound guard Marshall Schreeder bulwarked an impenetrable  fortress that limited  Cooper to 28 yards in 11 carries and Avondale to a total of 66 yards.
Frank Owens, 190-pound tackle for Calvin Ramsey’s losers, was  devastating in an almost equally  battering defense that bottled up the defending Region 5-AAA champions except for Chapman’s one brilliant burst. “Owens was just great, must have made 15 tackles,” admired Ramsey in retrospect. “Westminster was just too strong for us physically, and that danged number 73 (Rogers) just about ruined us. We just couldn’t block them on runs and someone was looking down Mike Colvard’s  throat every time he tried to pass,” said Ramsey.
YARDSTICK
Avondale (0)                                    Westminster (7)
7                      First Downs                 10
63                    Yards Rushing            124
6                      Yards Passing             21       
5                      Yards Penalized          55
“I thought all our players played a wonderful game,” beamed Brake, savoring the taste of revenge for Avondale’s 19-7 victory a year ago. “Rogers, Branch, Blackwood, Schreeder in particular were just great. We keyed on Cooper—boy is he dangerous—and we stopped them. But all the credit goes to Coach Chapman. He coached with Bear Bryant at Kentucky and for 10 years at VPI, and he plans every bit of our defense.” Chapman and Blue Devil John Mangrum punted well throughout the titanic struggle.
Score by Quarters:
Avondale         0          0          0          0 -- 0
Westminster    0          0          7          0— 7
Westminster  Scoring: TD— Tommy Chapman (91 yard  kickoff return); PAT—Reid Conyers (kick)

Other Coverage of the Game
Chris Hunter wrote that a heavy Wildcat line and mud bogged down Avondale. Except for Tommy Chapman’s 91-yard TD run, the game was the mightiest defensive struggle of the year. The Blue Devils held the Wildcats to only 122 yards, the main reason being 190-pound tackle Frank Owens who was the key man on most of Avondale’s defensive plays that impressed Charlie Roberts so much that Owens was named as a Prep Star of the Week. Avondale’s hard-pressed line was successful in controlling the Westminster offense, but couldn’t manage to break through for a sustained drive on the Westminster goal line.

Terry Kay wrote that Avondale in losing, has a rare 2-1 record early in the season. The Blue Devils must fight a courageous battle against powerful opponents in a test of survival. It can be done but it will not come easy. Except for a momentary lapse in the Avondale defense, the game could have ended 0-0. Avondale had taken the ball on the opening kickoff and kept it for most of the first quarter and got as close as the Westminster 22-yard line before quarterback Mike Colvard was dumped for a loss, ending Avondale’s most sustained drive of the night. The Blue Devils relied on the running of David Cooper and Steve Mills, but the Wildcats consistently held. Colvard was harassed for a mere six-yards passing—the absence of passing definitely hurt the Blue Devils. Earl Seagraves gained a major portion of the Wildcat’s rushing. To start the second half, Avondale had to kick off. Glenn Johnson’s kick carried all the way to the nine-yard line, where Tommy Chapman was waiting. From the nine, Chapman broke loose like  a stung horse and raced down the field. While he was enroute to a TD, he was hit on the six-yard line by Johnson. Chapman stumbled and lunged  for the goal line  where he was judged  to have scored. Avondale fans believe that Chapman was downed short of the goal line.

In the Huddle
Westminster’s 235-pound fullback was a “big” difference in the game. Mike Colvard recalls: “Seagraves ran over us all night long, pushing us up and down the field. He  is the one player that killed us.” George Veal  adds: “I don’t think I played particularly well against the big fullback, as Earl Seagraves gave me fits. But Frank Owens had a field day on defense.” Steve Mills (AHS 1965) respected a Westminster opponent: “Taylor Branch was a Westminster linebacker--  best player I ever played against.   I remember early in the game when we were moving the ball a little,  we had made a couple first downs both on close measurements. As a leader, Taylor urged his defense, ‘Come on guys, they are just barely making them’. In the rematch for the North Georgia championship, he was injured early and we scored 28 unanswered points.” David Bentley describes what the Blue Devils were up against: “We really didn't have that much trouble with the down lineman, but their linebackers killed us on nearly every play. Poor Mike Colvard never really had a chance to throw the ball either. Every time that he would drop back,  the tackles would take an outside rush and the linebackers would shoot the gap. The back that was kept in to help block could cover only one of them. When Colvard didn't get sacked immediately,  he would roll out to the right into the outside rush by their end and tackle. Even though I had started most of 1962 when Jimmy Cooley got hurt, I believe I learned more from that one loss than any other game I ever played.”

Our Wounded Warriors
Due to injuries from the Gordon game David Cooper says, “Coach Ramsey made me wear a bulky rib protector in the Westminster game. As the season progressed, I stayed banged up. From the first time I broke my ankle in the 10th grade, Mickey Lingle was patching me together before practices and games.” Considering fierceness of the Wildcat defense, the rib protector would have been a good idea even if he had not already been injured. With the hard-hitting R.E. Lee game the following week, David made a request: “ I asked coach Ramsey not to make me wear that protective gear anymore, because it was inflexible. After Mickey came up with a foam rubber type of padding that he taped on me, Coach Ramsey finally agreed.”  Mickey provides a detailed view about the needed treatment that kept our Blue Devils on the field: “After two weeks of hardnosed and what some would say ‘brutal football games’,  the injuries were piling up. Everybody seemed to be banged up. The training room was running in overtime before and after practice. We used a lot of tape on ankles and knees. A badly swollen ankle that is purple and swollen where the ankle bone was barely recognizable was common. Dr. Powell was at the stadium every day from the beginning of summer practice and all year after practice and gave our players outstanding care. The whirlpool and ultra sound were in overload for treating the injuries. Some injuries were chronic and probably did not heal until well after the season. Frank Owen had a bad knee. Andy Odom’s hand was split open and required stitches after a practice. David Cooper and most of the team hurt anywhere an opposing player’s helmet, shoulder, knee, fist or foot could contact his body. Eddy Sanders had an open wound on his elbow that scabbed up that would come off every day. Everybody was sore someplace on their body.” Considering the physical toll these games had on our players, it’s amazing that our Blue Devils played at such a high level. Much credit goes to the team trainers and Dr. Powell, who gave up time from his private practice to attend to our players.

The Controversy
According to Glenn Johnson, it seems to be more than a coincidence that “we lost the coin toss in every game except for the Westminster game where I handled the opening kickoff’” because the opposing team would choose to receive to start the game, then we would receive the second-half kickoff. Glenn had the best view of the controversial 91-yard TD score by Tommy Chapman, as he continues the story: “Up to the Westminster game I became the ‘safety valve’ on kickoffs where I would hang back to be the last defender with a shot to make a tackle if it was necessary.  When Chapman came straight up the middle of the field  and broke to the sideline in front of me, I gave chase. When he reached the sideline and turned goal ward, I dove to try to trip him up because I knew that was the best angle I had for stopping him. I succeeded in tripping, so that he stumbled down the sideline, fell on the three or four yard line, and slid into the end zone. The official who called it a touchdown was 40-yards away without a clear view of the play. As a result of this runback, Coach Ramsey made Cooper the safety valve, and I followed my kicks down the field the rest of the year. While being the first down the middle of the field, I only made one tackle in the Moultrie game, but I altered the path of a lot of returners which enabled others to make the tackle. Suffice it to say, no one ever again returned a kickoff  right up the middle on us.”

An Ironic Footnote to the “Controversy”
Bobby Buckler (AHS 1966) adds to the story: “I am going to provide a short side-story regarding the disputed call in the Westminster game.  My dad's refereeing crew called that game, as they did on numerous occasions even though Steve, Bonnie and I were students at Avondale.  They were the top-ranked high school refereeing crew in North Georgia and were frequently requested by the coaches, as they were that night by Coach Ramsey and Coach Brake, both of whom were close friends of my Dad. On Chapman's touchdown kickoff return to start the second half, the field judge, who was suppose to cover the goal line in the event of a return, had slipped on the wet field and fallen.  Dad was the closest official to the play and, as Scottdale recalled, he was 25-30 yards behind Chapman.  Finally, as much as I hate to agree with Scottdale on almost any subject, Chapman did go down on about the 3 or 4 yard line and slid into the end zone.  Dad missed the call, and he was told about his error by the entire family when he got home that night. We reminded of ‘the call’ on many occasions, including the eulogy I gave at his funeral. Notably, consistent with what David Cooper and Andy Odom said about that loss galvanizing the team, Dad always said that the loss was what led to the state championship. He always claimed some credit for the team's success.  Interestingly, after the season, the team was rewarded with a trip to the Gator Bowl and mother and dad were invited and went as chaperones. Dad passed away in 2008, but he was a great Blue Devil fan and friend of many of the kids who played for Avondale in the 50's, 60's and 70's.  He officiated football for over 45 years and we all miss him every day particularly during football season.”

A Strong Defense and a Struggling Offense
Andy Odom reflects on the game: “There may have been some controversy, but the problem wasn’t with the defense but that we just didn’t score. George Veal makes an interesting assessment about the offense three games into the season: “It’s amazing that we scored only two touchdowns in the most recent eight quarters  of play (Gordon, 13-6 and Westminster 0-7). I think we had an inexperienced offense which just had not found its identity, yet.” David Bentley  adds an honest opinion: “You're asking a lot for 50 years of total recall, but I do remember that our offense really stunk. We really didn't have that much trouble with the down lineman but their linebackers killed us on nearly every play. Poor Colvard never really had a chance to throw the ball either. Every time that he would drop back, the Westminster tackles would take an outside rush and the linebackers would shoot the gap. The back that was kept in to help block could cover only one of them and, when Colvard didn't get sacked immediately, he would roll out right into the outside rush of the end and tackle. Even though I had started most of the year before when Jimmy Cooley got hurt, I believe I learned more from that one loss than any other game I ever played.” Glenn Johnson makes a valid point about the defense: “Seagraves was a load and may have had a good night, but guess what, they never crossed our goal line, not even when they were credited with a TD. We had to grow up offensively, but our defense was there from day one.”

The Pain of Defeat
David Cooper remembers a feeling shared by his team mates:  “I believe all of us on the team were very dejected after the game. Never wanting to have that feeling again helped motivate us the rest of the season.” Andy Odom was philosophical about the defeat: “The loss to Westminster got us back on track. We knew we had to get better or we would get beat, as we were preparing to face R.E. Lee in just one week.” Glenn Johnson felt pain for another reason, as his actions regrettably influenced Coach Ramsey’s decision on the starting quarterback for the Westminster game: “Ray Myers and I had the lowest point in our careers at AHS. Ray didn’t play a single snap and I was in for only one kickoff to begin the second half. While we were practicing the week of the Westminster game, I pulled a funny stunt to add levity to the practice, as I was wont to do. Ray laughed at me, but the coaches didn’t appreciate it. Just before the game, Coach Ramsey named Mike Colvard as the starting quarterback because he thought Ray hadn’t been serious enough in practice. This was Mike’s first start at QB was in the face of an overwhelming defensive game by Westminster that shut out our scoring. Ray might have not done any better with passing, since it was a rainy night and an unyielding defense stood in the way. Mike went on to have a great year because of his running ability. Ray was disappointed for not playing in a critical, and I was painfully regretful for being the cause and letting Ray down. Coach didn’t tolerate any lollygagging and he was making a point. As it turned out, Mike and Ray shared QB duties the remainder of the year with great success.” David Bentley has a philosophical view of the game: “This was a 7-0 wake up call.”

David’s Four Mighty Words
General Douglas MacArthur famously said, “I shall return”. Glenn Johnson describes a powerful moment in the aftermath of a technical loss: “After the Westminster game, as the team was departing the dressing room to return to Avondale, David Cooper made a bold, confident statement as he wrote in big enough letters to cover the whole blackboard, ‘WE WILL BE BACK’. What a forecast”. McArthur made a promise, Cooper made a prophecy. After the “accidental loss”, a feeling of defiance must have consumed the team that had just ended a fiery battle. Can you imagine the reaction of Westminster to the bold message and how it must have haunted the Wildcats when they were fated to face our Blue Devils in Death Valley where the winner would be set to play for the North Georgia championship?!?
David explains the reason for his spontaneous expression of defiance and determination. that reflected the team’s character and “never-give-up” attitude: “I, like all of our players, felt that we were better than them. I wanted to express my feelings, something that I have never been very good at doing.  I wanted the whole world to know that we would rebound and that our team would not quit. We also wanted Westminster to know that given the chance to play them again the outcome would be far different.” In spite of David’s modesty, he found the words and eloquence, at a time of need, to rally the team and restore morale when an even bigger game with R. E. Lee was one week away. The eyes of this prophet and a team of believers must have seen that Westminster would fall to Avondale, 28-0  eight weeks later.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964
George Veal-- AHS 1965

Football was the genesis of winning in all sports and activities
Today I am not reporting on football in particular, but a topic that connects with all AHS graduates from the period of our glory days. After being involved in commemorating the 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1963 seasons, a common thread has emerged. As football coincides with the start of the school year, our tradition of football excellence and winning has been the genesis of winning for all Blue Devils. My thoughts on this subject were prompted by Stan Anderson’s (AHS 1964) reply to a question: “What do you remember about the R.E. Lee game?”  Stan’s answer was: “I don’t recall much about the games, but I can recall that the whole year was a hell-of-a-lot-of-fun.  In fact many clubs, organizations, and teams had equally as great a year as the football team and competed for state titles:  both boys and girls basketball teams, the baseball team, track teams, wrestling teams and wrestling individuals, the debate team, the band, the choirs, and many others probably.  My memories are of the friends and friendships that have lasted for so many years, and the things that we did, and the memory of many things we didn’t do.  So let’s celebrate all those events that made our high school senior year one the most memorable possible.”  Several parts of Stan’s reply deserve comment:
·    Football players who can’t recall details about the games in which they played are typical, mostly because of the flow of the game. Wilburn Williamson (AHS 1959) explained that he had limited recall because your only thoughts are on executing the next play. Other players including David Cooper have told me the same thing, but I am certain that many of us remember their athletic deeds.  
·    The reason I asked Stan the question is that he set the course for the eventual 1963 AAA state football championship  with a crushing tackle in the Lee game that forced a fumble recovered by Eddy Sanders that gave our Blue Devils an opportunity to win the game 7-3.
·    Stan’s answer shows that he does not just revel in football but in his pride in all of the activities at Avondale that shared the trend of winning, dedication, preparation and commitment that was adopted in our own lives.
The common thread for Avondalers is that we were inspired by our often undersized overachievers who taught us how to win in life. Forgetting details and events from 50 years ago may be a loss, but we have not forgotten our Blue Devil pride and our desire to succeed.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960


Mills’ Fourth Quarter TD Punches Avondale Past Lee
Devils Claim Victory, 7-3
The Atlanta Constitution, October 3, 1963—Two state-ranked AAA powers met head on in Thomaston Friday night and the Avondale Blue Devils left 6,000 homecoming fans and the R.E. Lee Rebels to think about a bitter 7-3 loss. Trailing 3-0, Devil Fullback Steve Mills slashed six yards through the Rebels’ line with 38 seconds left in the game to conclude  a 34-yard drive which consumed 11 plays. Freshman Mike Cavan had booted Lee into a three-point lead midway through the fourth period with a perfect 23-yard field goal. Following the Rebel kickoff, they forced Avondale to punt and set up their next series at their own 39-yard line. It seemed like only a matter of running out the clock for Lee; however, the winners then made their big break. The tackling prowess of Stanley Anderson was not to be denied as he jolted the ball loose from the Rebel ball carrier and end Eddy Sanders recovered 34-yards away from victory. Avondale took possession and grinded goal-ward. After Mills’ score, the Rebels took the kickoff and drove to the Avondale 20, on the passing of Cavan,  but time finally ran out on the Rebels.
YARDSTICK
Avondale (7)                          R.E. Lee (3)
6                      First Downs                 17
98                    Yards Rushing            74
35                    Yards Passing             92       
87                    Yards Penalized          10
Avondale’s David Cooper converted a very valuable fourth down to a first down to keep the final drive alive on the way to victory and played superb backfield ball.  The win will increase Avondale’s tenth position  in state ranking and gave Coach Calvin Ramsey his 99th  high school victory.. Before the battle Lee was ranked sixth in the state. 
Score by Quarters:
Avondale         0          0          0          7 -- 7
R.E. Lee          0          0          0          3— 3
Avondale Scoring: TD—Steve Mills (6-yard run); PAT—Glenn Johnson (placement kick)
R.E. Lee Scoring: FG—Mike Cavan (23-yard field goal)
 

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS, AVONDALE OPENS THE DOOR
The Atlanta Journal, October 5, 1963—Avondale’s opportunists, capable of scoring profusely when they must, needed only one late score Friday night  to bounce R.E. Lee from the ranks of the unbeaten, 7-3, in a 4-AAA East duel. After matching hard noses across the line for three and a half periods, Lee’s Mike Cavan kicked off the scoring with a 23-yard field goal with 8:00 left in the game. Minutes later the Blue Devils recovered a fumble on the Rebel’s 34-yard line thanks to a smashing tackle by Stanley Anderson and a recovery by Eddy Sanders. After churning out 28 hard-earned yards in ten plays, Steve Mills bashed  over from the six-yard line. Glenn Johnson tacked on the PAT and the scoring was over with 38 seconds left on the clock. Lee’s  attempt to stall the clock and just wait for victory was foiled by the hard-charging Blue Devil line. Avondale, with a 3-1-0 record, journeys to powerful Decatur next week.

Inside the Huddle:
George Veal recalls the preparation for the game, “All week long, Coach Ramsey preached the fact that no Avondale team had ever lost two games in a row. Did we want to be the first Avondale team to endure this disgrace? This gave all of us some extra motivation, and we would need every ounce of it against an excellent R.E. Lee team. It was the roughest, toughest game I ever played in. Fortunately, we squeezed out a victory. I am just glad we didn't have to play them again in a playoff game. None of the teams that we played in the playoffs were nearly as good as R.E. Lee. If we had played Lee again, I am sure it would have been another tough, close contest and Avondale football history might have been different.” David Cooper says that Lee players felt the same way about the game: “Terry Osbolt was an all state tackle for  R.E. Lee, and we were roommates for the away games at Georgia. We agreed that that was probably the hardest hitting game we had ever played. I think that just about all of the players on both teams felt that the two best teams in the state played that night.” Andy Odom agrees about the hard hitting since he sustained a separated shoulder just from making a tackle on a punt return. Andy had planted his feet so he could cover the runner’s move to the right or left, instead the ball carrier chose to run directly at Andy causing the injury.  Glenn Johnson  explains how Coach Ramsey changed his build-up for the game later in the week: “Coach Ramsey always built up our opponent to make sure we never got over-confident. Against R E Lee, however, he took a different tack.  I think he sensed that our confidence was a little shaky, so on Thursday during our classroom session to prepare for the game, Coach said, ‘I think we can go down there and beat Lee.’ Words can't express just how much that meant to us and how much it lifted our spirits. That's a part of Coach Ramsey's technique that often gets overlooked. That was the only time I ever heard him speak in such a positive manner about our chances against an opponent. He knew when to quit building up the other team and when to build up the confidence of a group of boys whom he turned into men." 

A Long Return to Nowhere
There is a picture accompanying the game report that shows David Cooper running the ball—the caption reads: “Avondale’s David Cooper scooting—returning kickoff 80 yards against Lee.”  David’s 80-yard run must have created  excitement to start the second half, preceded by a classic defensive shutout in the first half. The odd thing is that no further mention is made in the paper about this huge run in an otherwise very tight game with little sustained offense. David Cooper actually doesn’t recall much about the game: “I cannot remember any specific plays of the Lee game, probably from all of the hard hitting. Every play seemed to end with someone leaving the game. I remember after one play, another player helped me up and had to stop me from going to the wrong huddle. The high level and intensity of play on both sides in that game made many of the later games seem easy.” Thanks to Glenn Johnson’s memory, we have a detailed account about David’s 80-yarder: “At half-time Coach Ramsey told Cooper that the Lee kicker had a tendency to kick long but flat and that we would have a good chance to return it. Cooper caught the ball at about the goal line and made a return of 80 yards, so we had a first down around the Lee 20. After three downs the drive stalled because Lee jammed the line as they had done all night. We called a time out on fourth down and Coach asked me if I could make a field goal. With the ball being placed down about the 30, this kick would be 40-yard distance to the uprights. It was early enough in the season that I didn’t think my leg was strong enough. Also, I considered that I would have had to kick the ball so hard that I might not have the ‘touch’ that could guarantee accuracy, so I told Coach, ‘No’.  Afterwards, Lee took possession on downs. At least David’s run put Lee deep in their own territory to start the second half. Except for this deep penetration, Lee kept us bottled up all night except for our final drive from the 34-yard line following the fumble created by Stanley Anderson’s crushing tackle, the recovery by Eddy Sanders, and the touchdown by Steve Mills late in the fourth quarter. Lee had 17 first downs (vs. our 6), but our defense limited them to first downs between the 20’s. Our 87 yards of penalties gave them several unearned first downs that gave them the 17 they got. Lee never got into the red zone—keeping them out of the end zone was the ultimate performance of the year for our defense. We would not face any other team that would pressure us as much as Lee.”

The Biggest Hit Created the Opportunity to Win
Glenn recounts a remarkable revelation: “The tackle by Stanley Anderson that created the ‘fumble’ and that was recovered by Eddy Sanders on the Lee 34 was so important that we would not have won the championship without it. Chances are good that the 1963 championship trophy would have ended up in the R.E. Lee trophy case instead of ours. Stanley and Eddy created the opportunity to win, but our offense still had to complete an eleven-play drive to win the game with only seconds left on third down—our final opportunity to score-- when Steve Mills crashed over from six yards out to score. After the game, Coach Cavan brought a helmet to the dressing room to show Coach Ramsey, then he said, ‘This is the reason y’all won the game.’  The helmet he held had a broken face mask and a crack in it. Coach Cavan added, ‘ The ball carrier had a broken jaw because of the hit.’ The testimony and evidence presented by Coach Cavan proved that Stanley delivered a ‘bone-jarring tackle’ that was a game changer.” George Veal tells how Lee also did some hard hitting: “On our first offensive play of the game, the call was for fullback Steve Mills to run right over right tackle. Somehow Jim Sharp and I got our signal mixed up and both of us blocked the same linebacker, but no one blocked their great tackle, Terry Osbolt. When poor Steve got the ball, Osbolt almost took off his head. From the very get go, you knew this was going to be a tough football game.” Fortunately, there was no repeat of that error when perfect execution enabled Steve to score the winning  TD from the six-yard line late in the game.

The “Longest” Drive
Steve Mills describes what Avondale faced in the Lee game: “After losing to Westminster, we faced an equally talented R.E. Lee defense in Thomaston and were trailing 3-0 late in the game when Stanley Anderson forced a fumble with a helmet-shattering tackle. We managed to score with less than a minute left to win 7-3. Had we lost, we would not have made the playoffs as this win became the springboard for our State Championship run.” Glenn Johnson outlines the key moments in the game: “Steve Mills scored the winning touchdown in the R.E. Lee game. What is noteworthy about this is that it was the first time all year that Coach Ramsey asked Ray Myers, the quarterback, what play Ray wanted to run.” Ray Myers tells the story: “After R.E. Lee fumbled on the 34, we drove 28 yards to the six-yard line in ten hard-driven plays on what seemed to be the longest drive. Coach Ramsey called time out and went out to talk to me about what play to call. Coach asked, ‘what do you think will work, Ray.’ I responded, ‘Well coach, they've been keying on David Cooper all night long. I think we ought to run Mills up the middle.’ Coach responded, ‘Run it’.”  Glenn picks up the action: “As Ray prepared to take the snap, the Lee linebackers saw Cooper go in motion and followed him, leaving the middle open. When Steve hit the line, he spun off the blocks of James Sharp and Bill Johnson then he fell into the end zone on third down with about 40 seconds left in the game.” Steve Mills gives the most authoritative view regarding his touchdown: "The fullback plunge off tackle was an odd play to call since we needed six long yards against such a stout defense. Nonetheless, the line opened the hole, I bounced off one potential tackler and we scored the winning points. In retrospect I wonder if we might have been trying to center the ball in the middle of the field for a potential Glenn Johnson tying field goal that would have kept our playoff hopes alive. I think there were 10-12 players on the R.E. Lee team who went on to play college football-- they were big and very talented. even more so than Westminster.” Glenn realized, “We knew there was nobody else in our region as good as us or R. E. Lee, so when we won that game, we knew we were on our way. A lot of people grew up in that game. We went from a young, inexperienced team to contenders for the state championship. We may have beaten Moultrie in the championship game, but we were set up to win the championship the night we beat R. E. Lee. The die was cast the two previous weeks after the close win over Gordon and the loss to Westminster.”

The PAT That Made a Difference
Because Avondale scored so many touchdowns, Glenn Johnson never had a “pressure” PAT kick because victory was not in doubt; however, the one exception could have been in the Lee game. After Mill’s TD, Glenn recalls: “I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. I didn’t even think about it—I just went out there and kicked it straight through the middle.” Center Bruce Mather provided the essential snap to the place kick holder: “I  can't remember much about specific games, although I can remember the ones that made a real difference in a season.  I was just interested in blocking and trying to protect our quarterback and running backs on each play and making certain that snaps were as close to perfect as possible so that Glenn could be able to kick an extra point and John Mangrum could punt.” Glenn continues: “On the ride back to Avondale, line and defense Coach Ed Myers called me up to the front of the bus and said, ‘It’s a good thing you got that extra point, because a 6-3 score would have given Lee a chance to tie the game 6-6 with a last second field goal. They had moved the ball to our 20 and would have been within field goal range. If the game would have ended in a tie, Lee would have won by the penetration system by just having more first downs and total offensive yards.” It’s a good thing Glenn didn’t think about those possibilities, after all he just wasn’t going to miss on this PAT.

Time Ran Out on Lee
After Glenn’s PAT kick, he cannot remember the ensuing kickoff to Lee: “I was sky high about the TD. Quarterback Mike Cavan put on a show throwing the ball with only 38 seconds left in the game. Lee was making judicious  use of timeouts and was the beneficiary of penalties that allowed them to move the ball better than they had all night. They were getting 10 to 20 yards per play. As well as we played defense, they were driven by desperation and made play after play. We made good tackles to make sure they got only the yards on the completion  and none after the completion. Despite their furious effort, time ran out on Lee as they reached our 20-yard line as time ran out.” Steve Mills explains his role on defense: “After we scored, future UGA quarterback Mike Cavan started throwing the ball all over the field. Rarely, but on occasion, in these situations Coach Ramsey would put me in on defense. I remember a play around midfield when Cavan went back to pass but could not find a receiver, so he began to run. I started forward to make a tackle, but someone else started to bring him down before I got there. As he was going down, he fumbled the ball, so I dove to fall on the ball. But Cavan beat me to it by a split second, and I ended up hitting him instead. The referee caked a 15-yard penalty on me for a personal foul, which moved the ball to about our 35-yard line. I am just glad that Lee ran out of time, otherwise I think I would have been the goat if they had scored a TD and won.” In Steve’s defense, it appears that the penalty call was questionable, since he had an equal right for the fumble and that Cavan was not the target of the accidental hit. Also, Steve’s touchdown late in the fourth quarter left Lee with no choice but to complete a long drive for a touchdown within 38 seconds—as we know, they did not have enough time and Steve would remain a hero.

The Bus Ride Home
A gracious guest is described by Glenn: “Basketball coach J.E. Rowe, who was in his first year at AHS in 1963 after replacing Coach Collins, rode back with the team after the Lee game. There weren’t enough seats, so Coach Rowe was standing. Several players offered to give him their seats, but he wouldn’t have any of it. He said we had just played a tough game and that we deserved to sit. He stood in the aisle of the bus all the way from Thomaston to Avondale, thereby making a great first impression on us footballers. Coach Rowe later offered to hold some positions on the basketball team until after the football season was over. Bruce Mather,  Bill Johnson and Steve Mills made the basketball squad. That was a credit to Coach Rowe and gave an indication of the fine people who came into our lives to coach and teach us at Avondale.”

Two quotes personify the Lee game:  Paul Dietzel (LSU)-- "You can learn more character on the two-yard line than anywhere else in life." You know that our Blue Devils would agree with that after holding off Lee from making a TD for four quarters. Duffy Daugherty (Michigan State)-- "Football is NOT a contact sport - it is a collision sport. Dancing IS a contact sport." After the heavy collisions on the field, our Devils must have felt like dancing for joy.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    George Veal—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964       Steve Mills—AHS 1965

DECATUR  VS. DEVILS: MORE THAN A GAME
4-AAA Powers Square Off in Neighborhood Rivalry
The Atlanta Constitution, October 8, 1963, by Terry Kay—They do not merely call it a game when Decatur and Avondale play football. It is more like an intense and a deliberate act of nature. Friday night the two teams will play at Decatur for the first time this season and may well play for a second time in the 4-AAA playoff. Last Year Decatur won Region  4-AAA from an Avondale team that had soundly defeated them. Decatur’s 7-6 victory  marked two things—revenge for the regular season defeat and the first time that Decatur had beaten the proud Blue Devils. Also, Avondale was beaten on its home field for the first time. The game set in Decatur should give them an advantage with a raucous crowd yelling their support. Avondale, 3-1 this year will be up for the game with so much pride riding on the outcome. David Cooper is the runner who causes people to stumble, scatter or bounce. But Decatur has Walter Chadwick who has the same qualities and more brute power. Cooper and Chadwick are the keys  and, together, they may be the finest players in the state.
If Avondale has shown any appreciable weakness, it probably is the passing game. And if Decatur has had any surprising moments, it is probably the passing of competent Owen Cardell. Herein could be the difference. Both teams have sound lines. Both like  to play hard and rough. At this point in the season, Decatur is probably better founded individually in the line with a little more depth, but determination could hold sway over anything Friday night. The outcome of the game would be to establish a solid choice for winning 4-AAA honors in November. No game means  so much to so many this weekend.

Cardell Gives Edge to Decatur
The Atlanta Journal, October 8, 1963, by Charlie Roberts--  Coach J.B. Davis, whose Gordon Generals lost to unbeaten, untied Decatur, 21-0, and to once-beaten Avondale , 12-6, calls the titanic Class AAA  sellout clash at Decatur,  “an  absolute tossup in which you must throw out all the records. But I’ll go along with Decatur because I believe its passing stacks up better than Avondale’s pass defense. In other respects, I’d say Avondale’s defense is better than Decatur’s. Everyone is talking about  how great Decatur’s Walter Chadwick and Avondale’s David Cooper are—and they are great backs—but I believe quarterback Owen Cardell will be the ‘difference’ in this one. Cardell had to be the best quarterback in the state the night he threw three touchdown passes to beat us. He’s the best I’ve seen around here. To me, he can do more things—fake, handle the ball, run, pass. He developed tremendously last spring and he’s just great. Cooper had a better night against us  than Chadwick, but because of his size, speed, ability  I believe Chadwick is the finest college prospect in the state. I know that no one in Region 4-AAA  compares with him. If Chadwick could run like that little 155-pound Cooper, he could name his college. Cooper is slippery like a greased pig. You can’t knock him down. He hits, hits, hits, and keeps on going. Both Chadwick and Cooper look  even better than Brown’s Billy Kinnard.”

Coach Davis continues his assessment: “Decatur’s Eddie Foster is as good as any tackle around, and Decatur is stronger overall physically because Coach Franklin Brooks team has enough depth for two platooning. He has more good players. When he takes Chadwick out, you have to deal with that Josh Veal—and he’s going to be a great one, too. Avondale’s defense is almost impossible to run against, though Coach Calvin Ramsey doesn’t have any tremendously outstanding boys I can name, but they all hit hard and have good instincts to be where the football is. Brown didn’t have a chance to move against the Blue Devils, and against us I’d swear they could smell the ball. We could throw against them though. That’s why I think Cardell will be the difference. He’s a very underrated quarterback. The fullbacks (Decatur’s Tommy Savage and Avondale’s Steve Mills) will be on a par. Team speed is about the same. Their comparative scores against us don’t mean much—we just played a better game against Avondale.”
4-AAA West Division Decatur (5-0)has outscored Russell, Gordon, Gainesville, Southwest DeKalb and Forest Park, 107 points to 25.  4-AAA-East Avondale (3-1) is 55 to 22 against comparatively stronger Brown, Westminster, R.E. Lee and Gordon. Take your pick. J.B. Davis picks Decatur—others think the Bulldogs will finish with their blunt noses out front because of Owen Cardell’s strong throwing arm.

Great Bulletin Board Material
These articles must have made excellent bulletin board material for adding motivation to our Blue Devils to prove them all wrong—even Charlie Roberts got it wrong. Steve Allen single-handedly shut down Cardell’s mighty arm with three interceptions— he could have been Decatur’s leading receiver that night. The articles seemed to miss the point that Avondale played well as a disciplined TEAM led by a Hall of Fame COACH—not just a bunch of individual standouts. Also, the Gordon coach must have dreaded facing Avondale’s returning players in the 1964 season. All of the newspaper comments explain how the prognosticators made the wrong prediction—they failed to recognize the development of young talent, the optimal use of skills, and superior coaching that elevated the level of play as the season progressed..

Changes in the Lineup
Steve Mills identifies some of the Decatur players that Avondale would face on Friday night:  “Decatur was big and strong on the line, especially Eddie Foster, David Brookshire (a tackle who went to the University of Tennessee),  and Bob Henry who was a real good defensive end.” He continues with an explanation of how the offense was evolving and maturing: “Some things were starting to come together offensively, after beginning the season with an inexperienced offensive line  that started to develop a rhythm and confidence. Lanny Asamoto , a little used-slot back up to this point, was given a chance to play. Lanny added speed and a homerun threat to the offense. He would only get the ball three or four times a game, but invariably he would break a run for a 50-yard or longer touchdown. Lanny's plays were generally counter or reverse type plays, where the play flow would fake one way and the quarterback would slip the ball to him on a forward handoff headed in the opposite direction. My dad always referred to this as the ‘Asamoto shuffle’.” Glenn explains how Coach Ramsey made the best use of players and kept them fresh: “By using Lanny, Coach Ramsey could give certain players a rest like Steve Allen and Andy Odom, who were not only good runners, but also terrific outside linebackers  in the 5-4 defense that we ran where George Veal and Stanley Anderson were inside linebackers. Lanny did a fine job of blocking and running. Since everybody keyed on Cooper, Lanny was a threat on counter plays which opened up the offense because defenses were facing multiple options.” Steve Mills illustrates Coach Ramsey’s mastery of recognizing talent and  of placing them in positions where they would be most effective:  “I think it was also about this time a subtle but important change was made on defense. Jim Sharp was a big strong force at defensive tackle. He was not exactly the quickest guy in the world, but he could really stuff the run on 3rd down in obvious situations. Coach Ramsey  began to selectively insert Wade Wilkes for Jim, since Wade had tremendous quickness and a relentless obsession to get to the passer. I am not sure exactly how many sacks Wade got that year but he certainly added to our ability to rush the opposing quarterback.” Glenn adds: “Since Mike Cavan lit us up on Lee’s final drive the week before, Coach wanted to put more pressure on the passer. He knew that with a stout defense like we had, a lot of teams would be throwing the ball late in the games to try to catch up.” These moves enabled the Blue Devil defense in the Decatur game to put pressure on Cardell’s passing that led to Steve Allen’s three interceptions and to disrupt Decatur’s offensive execution that forced three fumbles.
Gerry Lingle-- AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964
Steve Mills—AHS 1965

Avondale’s Offense and Defense Rise Again
Blue Devils Feast on Decatur Turnovers
Decatur and Avondale had a visceral dislike when they met on the grid iron or on any other sporting venue. As neighbors, they were natural adversaries and competitors for local dominance. Wade Wilkes recalls:  “We had a feeling that we would be a good team, but that the real stars had left after our 1962 loss to Decatur, which was stacked with experienced talent plus Walter Chadwick, so they’d probably win the region again. Then we stumbled in the 7-0 loss to Westminster with QB Tommy Chapman and Earl Seagraves, a  235lb fullback who ran over us.  Coach Ramsey rallied the troops after that loss for an essential 7-3 victory over R. E. Lee, and the rest is history.” After the Westminster game, there must have been some “doubters” about Avondale’s chances for winning against rugged competition with the Westminster and Lee games to follow immediately. But by the Decatur game there were a lot of “Devilish deniers”— namely a dominating defensive unit that snared three interception (all by Steve Allen) and claimed three fumbles (by Brad Johnson, Gene Webb, and Wade Wilkes)—who would swarm over offenses and often DENY them scoring opportunities. Halfway through the season, the Blue Devils had posted a 4-1-0 record with the toughest part of the season behind them but with local rivals waiting to ambush Avondale—so this was not a time to relax. By this time, the dominating deniers had held the five opponents to six points or less in each game, and they would continue to get better. Since the offense had come to life to compliment the overpowering defense, the team also could have been called the Avondale Avengers for paying back Decatur with a convincing loss.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960

Avondale Belts Decatur, 21-6;  10,000 Watch Cooper Rollick
Allen Intercepts Three Passes
The Atlanta Constitution, October 12, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Avondale’s Little David Cooper slew Decatur High’s Goliath Friday night, 21-6, before 10,000 football fanatics at Decatur  Stadium. Cooper, 155-pound stump of a boy who averages about ten yards every time he hauls leather, stomped for two early touchdowns that assured Coach Calvin Ramsey’s  Blue Devils revenge for the one-and-only defeat they have ever suffered at the hands of the Bulldogs, a 7-6 loss in the 1962 playoffs. But dramatic Steve Allen and his ball-hawking associates all but stole the show that was billed as a duel between  Cooper and brutish Walter Chadwick, Decatur’s one-man backfield gang.  Halfback Allen filched three enemy passes, and halfback Brad Johnson, tackle Gene Webb, and fullback Wade Wilkes coiled around fumbles that made this first setback for Decatur a decisive one.
With Linemen James Sharp, Eddie Sanders, George Veal, Stanley Anderson and fullback Steve Mills  harassing Decatur backs at every turn, the once-beaten Avondalers had  run the score to 21-0 by halftime. Brilliant Cooper  ran almost every important yard until the score  became 14-0 on his scintillating  57-yard TD romp on the second play of the second quarter, and the second of Glenn Johnson’s three straight conversion boots. Even though both Cooper and Chadwick  ran for 93 yards on 13 snaps during the game, and Chadwick gained another 51 yards on pass receptions, the duel at this time was a “no contest” affair in favor of the “mighty midget”  of Avondale. Cooper rollicked for 81 yards on ten totes by halftime.
YARDSTICK
Avondale (21)                                    Decatur (6)
10                    First Downs                 12
195                  Yards Rushing            151
56                    Yards Passing             70       
105                  Yards Penalized          0
 Donnie Young called for a fair catch of John Mangrum’s second punt, misjudged the boot and fumbled it away to Brad Johnson, eight yards from the goal late in the first quarter. Cooper punished the ends three times and hit pay dirt. Glenn Johnson, who has not missed  a conversion attempt in nine attempts, booted true and the Imps were ahead to stay. Owen Cardell’s pitching and Chadwick’s  running and catching moved Decatur goal ward  as the first chapter came to a close, but tackle Webb pounced upon a Chadwick muff and two plays later Cooper set sail on his hope-killing 57-yard TD romp. Franklin Brook’s home standing 4-AAA powerhouse gambled and lost with 40 seconds left before halftime. 
Score by Quarters:
Avondale         7          14        0          0 -- 21
Decatur           0          0          0          6— 6
Avondale Scoring: TDs—Cooper 2 (1-yard run; 57-yard run); Sanders (8-yard pass from Myers);  PATS—Johnson 3 (placement kicks)
Decatur Scoring: TD— Chadwick (3-yard run)

Avondale Victory Was All Ramsey’s
Decatur Became Ramsey’s 100th Kill; Devil David Cooper Leads 21-6 Victory
The Atlanta Journal, October 12, 1963, by Terry Kay--  Call it Calvin Ramsey’s game. It was Friday night on the slightly bald field of Decatur High School, the game  that was won in the guise  and glory of Avondale belonged to Calvin Ramsey. This was the 135th game Ramsey has coached during  his  career. The victory, a 21-6 smarting of powerful Decatur, was his 100th. His teams have lost only 28  and have tied only seven. In the past years, since 1957, his Avondale teams have averaged only one defeat a year. His overall winning percentage stands at a solid .780. The game played before 10,000-plus on homecoming night, marked a renewal of one of the finest rivalries in the state. Last season Avondale won the regular season game over Decatur 24-0, but fell to the Bulldogs in the playoffs 7-6. Every probability points to another playoff match between the two teams later this season.

David Cooper made a personal accounting for the victory by putting Avondale ahead by 14 points in the earlier stages of the first half, scoring from one yard away and then breaking loose  only minutes later for  57-yard trip through a Decatur obstacle course. Avondale had kicked off and held Decatur to a punting situation. The punting exchanges continued-- Decatur to Avondale, Avondale to Decatur— and when things finally settled down, with Avondale in possession, it seemed the Blue Devils were ready for business. A 15-yard penalty, one of the 105-yards charged against Avondale stopped any pretense of progress and Avondale punted again. The Devil’s punter, John Mangrum, lofted one high with so much hang time that Donnie Young signaled for a fair catch; however, he fumbled and the Devil’s Brad Johnson fell on it at the Decatur eight. Cooper ran three times then crashed in from the one. On the Bulldog’s next possession, Walter Chadwick fumbled. Cooper again turned on the speed, cutting left, right, straight, shaking off a man on the five, then scoring at the conclusion of a 57-yard run. Avondale added an insurance touchdown just before the half as quarterback Ray Myers hit Eddy Sanders for receptions of 27-yards and 8-yards, the last one putting up six points on the score board. Glenn Johnson kicked his third consecutive extra point.
Decatur, which strayed from its fundamental training the first half, came  back with vigor, to say the least. Young Mr. Chadwick and quarterback Owen Cardell started offensive fires flickering  then dying out. Decatur’s touchdown came  late in the fourth after Chadwick had ripped off 22 yards from the Avondale 25 followed by a score from the three. The extra point was fumbled and lost. Avondale was not finished at halftime. Fleet Lanny Asamoto and powerful Steve Mills, a most excellent blocker, added yardage, but the Devils kept losing  many of those yards on penalties. Then there was Steve Allen, a halfback with defensive fondness. He intercepted three  passes and harassed Decatur’s secondary all night. Also, Avondale recovered three fumbles—by Brad Johnson, Gene Webb, and Wade Wilkes. In the rushing battle between  the two great backs, Cooper had 92 yards and Chadwick accounted for 87 yards. Avondale had 105 yards in penalties and Decatur registered none.  Otherwise the game statistics were fairly even.

An Emotional Build Up
Pre-game nerves are common for new players, but David Cooper describes an unexpected scene before the kickoff: “The main thing I remember about our first Decatur game is getting sick, and having to go outside to throw up. I was not sick—I just had pregame nerves. It was definitely embarrassing. My emotions about how the season ended in '62, the hard fought victor against Lee, the loss to Westminster, and all of the hype leading up to the game had accumulated to produce the nerves that were literally left on the ground. I have never been able to express my feelings very well, so I probably held my emotions in so much that it made me physically ill. Once the game started, I had no problem, because I could release your emotions into action. The papers had written a lot about a ‘match up’ with Walter Chadwick, but I knew that that was just hype, because it was not a one-on-one matchup. It was Avondale vs. Decatur. That meant that each of us had 10 other team mates on the field for every play. Also, going head to head with Tommy Carlisle and Jimmy Cooley in 1962 practices, and then going one on one in 1963 practices with players like Mills, Anderson, Veal, and many others in practices, I was never worried about a so called ‘matchup’ with anyone. After the game, Coach Ramsey with a smile on his face, said that it would be O K if I threw up before every game.”

Coaching “Ramsey Style”
David tells how practices prepared the team for games : “Coach Ramsey stressed that we go 100% all of the time. Our practices probably had more hard hits than we had in any of our games. He used to stress to me that having been a big part of last year’s team, younger players would be watching how I practiced. He would remind me that because a player is being recognized in the papers, he expected  them to work even harder in practice. I feel that every player from Avondale would say that after going through our practices, they were never afraid of facing their competitors. After a practice that week, Coach Ramsey called me to his office. I was nervous, because I started thinking about what I may have done wrong. Coach told me, ‘There is no problem. I can tell that you are feeling uncomfortable about some of the new plays that we are putting in.’ Then Ramsey looked at me with a puzzled expression, and said, ‘I know you are not concerned about others carrying the ball, so what is bothering you?’ I tried to explain that even when someone else was carrying the ball that I always had an assignment-- to block someone, or to fake carrying the ball so the defenders would have to hit me, With a lot of the new plays being put in, I was just going in motion away from the action. Coach Ramsey made me feel pretty silly, when he started laughing at what I  had said. When he stopped laughing, he told me, ‘Have faith in your ability to make plays that will be best for the team. I could assign you to block someone on a play, but by sending you in motion changes the defense and makes the play we were running a success.’ I really did not fully understand some of the things he said until I began coaching, but I accepted that Coach Ramsey knew what he was doing and that I was not just being wasted by running in motion away from the action.” David explains a surprising decision by Coach Ramsey: “After we scored the second touchdown, Coach Ramsey pulled me out of the game on offense. Coach Ramsey explained that he wanted to give other players the opportunity to play so they could gain experience and to keep the key players from being injured. During the previous year, I remember Tommy Carlisle and I sitting on the sidelines after we had a lead in many games. The other backs, like Mills not only gained experience, but showed how good they were by scoring. Ramsey, not wanting to run the score up would try to play every player, and not take them out for making mistakes. Our team had so much talent that many backup players, two or three deep at many positions, would have been outstanding starters on any other high school team in the state. During the second half, Coach Ramsey had pulled about all of  the starting defense. When Decatur had the ball in scoring position, several players were pleading with Coach Ramsey to let the starting defense go back in the game and preserve a shutout. He said, as usual, ‘Let the guys play because they need the experience.’ During a break in practice the following week, he told the defense: “The players getting experience from the situation like they had faced in the Decatur game will make them ready any time that they might have to be called on in future games.’ This and many other things I learned from our coaches that helped me form the way I coached. Coach Ramsey never felt the need to explain or defend what he did during competition. But if he felt that the players might have a misconception about why he did something, he would explain his reasons with his players in private. (this was a one way discussion and did not invite any response).” 

The Sweet Taste of Victory
George Veal meets Walter Chadwick…on the field: “During the week of practice prior to the game, we focused on stopping their star back, Walter Chadwick. On defense, they ran a six-man line, which meant that a lineman would be playing right in front of me at guard. I remember that he was a big guy and thought this is going to be a long night trying to block him and then having to stop Chadwick. Fortunately, the big guy turned out to be a wimp, so I could use most of my energy trying to stop Chadwick. On one play, Chadwick and I went head to head and he won. My head was ringing like hell. Fortunately, somebody called time out. I thought, ‘Thank God, this will give me a minute to regain my senses.’ Unfortunately, I forgot that I was supposed to go to the sideline to discuss strategy with Coach Ramsey. By the time I realized my mistake and got over to him, it was too late. Ramsey spent the time we had left chewing my ass out for not coming immediately to the sideline during the time out. Needless to say, I never did that again, even if I was knocked silly. It really felt  good to beat these guys after last year’s loss in Death Valley before a big crowd.”  Steve Allen tells how George was not the only one who got his “bell rung” after the last of his three interceptions:  “Walter Chadwick actually threw one of the interceptions on a pitchout. I remember the third one was more or less a ‘Hail Mary’ long pass downfield toward the end of the game. When I returned the ball  down the Decatur sideline, I was knocked out-- either Mickey Lingle or George Arendt put an ammonia capsule under my nose and I tried to eat it. I can tell you that they taste even worse than they smell. James Sharp, who had badly injured his knee, and I were transported to DeKalb General Hospital in an ambulance.  I didn't recover my senses, such as they were, until about an hour after the game. I remember very fondly that Lanny's wonderful parents came to the hospital to see if I was all right.” David Cooper had a “sweet taste of victory”—while Chadwick had comparable rushing yardage and one TD after four quarters, David had charged for his yardage and two TDs in less than two quarters.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964       David Cooper—AHS 1964
George Veal—AHS 1965

OUR FEARLESS WARRIORS
The three players named here are part of Avondale’s band of brothers, all of whom proved to be fearless warriors. In particular, Steve Allen, David Cooper, and Eddie Sanders had playing weights of 155 pounds or less, yet they stood tall among grid iron giants. Our Blue Devils never backed down, but often paid the price. You will get a glimpse of what it was like to be in their football cleats on game nights. David Cooper explains how the cheerleaders and fans had an important role in encouraging our Blue Devils: “When a player gets tired and dejected, the encouraging yells of the cheerleaders  and fans helped them get the energy to keep going. The backing of the fans and cheerleaders played a major role in the fantastic record of victories in ‘Death Valley’. Good players will come and go, but the Avondale pride will always remain in the hearts of the AHSers.”

Allen’s Big Return to Action Against Cross Keys
After three consecutive “away” games against ranked opponents,  the Blue Devils were on the road again for the fourth consecutive road game. As you may recall, Steve Allen left Decatur Stadium in an ambulance with a concussion. David Cooper shares the reaction of Steve’s teammates: “Steve’s trip to the hospital reminds me of how worried we all were because we had not seen  players leave the field in that manner.”   Steve made a recovery and returned to action in the Cross Keys game, where he completed an amazing “triple- double--three interceptions in the Decatur game and two TDs in the Cross Keys game (on a 54-yard run in the first quarter and a 45-yard pass from Ray Myers). Steve was one of many players who required care and treatment to be ready to play in  the next game where their football play would reveal their character.

Some Fake Runs, Some Real Hits
David Cooper gives some insight as to how it felt to be hit repeatedly in a game: “The only thing good about having three or four players hitting me when I was faking a power play is that I knew that another running back would be making good yardage. It seemed that every time we ran the trap play with Lanny, he would score a touchdown. but also Brad Johnson, Steve Allen, Steve Mills, and Andy Odom were  a tremendous threat anytime they were given the ball.”  When asked about how he handled the punishment he absorbed in games, David explained : “The hits never felt like pain, because there was a greater feeling from the sense of victory when we crossed the goal line.” After the final whistle of the games, the physical pain inflicted on David and other players required recovery and treatment  in the following days. David describes the treatment process that he and others were given: “Before practices, I had a P.E. class during the last period. I usually got some type of treatment,  but I was not alone. Every week the training room had an assortment of hurt players. Mickey Lingle, a couple of  assistants, and Dr. Powell had to differentiate those players who were ‘disabled’ from those that were ‘hurt’. Players can play hurt but not when they are disabled. Often, athletes can be their own worst enemy, since they often want to play so much that they try to ignore the pain in order to play, and they often develop a high pain tolerance. This means that athletes and coaches rely on the trainers and doctors to determine if the pain is from being disabled or from just being hurt. Luckily, our trainers continually found a way to keep us in playing shape for the games.  A good example was the way they kept patching up Eddie Sanders.”

Leading with His Forearm, Taking It on the Chin
David describes Eddie’s style of play and the consequences: “As a defensive end, Eddie had to  take on the other team’s lead blocker on power plays with his forearm. After the first week of practice, Eddie’s forearm would be swollen about an additional third of its size. Without extra padding and treatment, Eddie could not have been able to play as effectively as he did. Eddie had a high pain tolerance and would have kept playing until the ‘hurt’ arm became a disabling injury. Our trainers, managers and doctors played a big role in keeping our team going.” Eddie remembers: “The pain was not an issue while I was playing, but it was an issue the next day. While you are playing, the adrenalin rush is euphoric. The trainers and coaches would keep me playing with tape and bailing wire. Mickey Lingle, George Arndt, Cris Lingle, Ronnie Crowe and Billy Hale all did a great job. I remember not being able to get out of bed the next day. After moving very slowly, I would eventually be able to move somewhat gingerly. Once I was back on the football field,  I just maintained complete focus so I could play without pain. I weighed  only148 pounds and had to defend myself with a forearm.“  Eddie explains how he “led with his chin”:  “I made routine trips to emergency room to sew up my chin. For some reason my chin seemed to always be in the way of another player’s helmet. One time the doctor treating me had an emergency call and stopped in the middle of stitching up my chin. Mickey and I had watched him do the stitching so much that we didn't wait for him-- we finished the job ourselves and left.” In addition to using his forearm on defense, Eddie used his hands to receive a 15-yard pass that was crucial in sustaining the final TD in the third quarter of the Cross Keys game.

CROSS KEYS BURIED, 21-7, BY AVONDALE
The AJC, October 20, 1963— Cross Keys bottled up David Cooper Saturday night at North DeKalb Stadium, but the Indians forgot the other backs and ends as Avondale romped to a 21-7 victory. The Indians monopolized the ball in the first quarter, gaining 110 of their 131-yard total. However, on the Blue Devils fifth  play from scrimmage, Steve Allen set sail on a 54-yard touchdown jaunt. Glenn Johnson added the PAT. Cross Keys came right back from its own 10-yard line. David Smith and Teddy Green could pick up only five yards; then Green took a pitchout 21 yards to the 36. Kenneth Shedd, with mercury in his heels, stunned the visitors with a 64-yard scoring dash. Richie Crowe’s PAT tied it up. After that Avondale’s defense tightened up to yield only 21 additional yards in the last three quarters of play. Ray Myers found Allen for a 45-yard scoring aerial on the second play  of the second quarter. Johnson added the point after. Allen, Brad Johnson, and Steve Mills combined for the evening’s final TD drive with a Myers-to-Eddie Sanders 15-yard pass being the key play of the drive. Mike Colvard slipped over from the six for the TD and Johnson kicked his third PAT.
YARDSTICK
Avondale (21)                         Cross Keys (7)
10                      First Downs                 4
236                   Yards Rushing            131
106                   Yards Passing             9       
45                    Yards Penalized          63
Score by Quarters:
Avondale         7          7          7          0 -- 21
Cross Keys      7          0          0          0— 7
Avondale Scoring: TD—Steve Allen 2 (54-yard run; 45-yard pass from Ray Myers); Mike Colvard (6-yard run);  PATs—Glenn Johnson 3 (placement kicks)
Cross Keys Scoring: Kenneth Shedd (64-yard run); PAT—Richie Crowe

In the Huddle
Steve Mills  names an impressive opponent: “Cross Keys was a good, but not great team. They had an all-star linebacker named Tim Bice. I think he made about 20 tackles in this game. Later he went on to play nose tackle at the University of South Carolina weighing only 175 pounds, which was amazing even in those days.” Tim Bice was recognized as a 1st team guard on the 1963 All-State  squad. Based on Tim Bice’s smallish size and big skill, he sounds like he could have been a Blue Devil. Steve doesn’t remember much about the game, but  adds, “This win was a confidence builder for both our offense and defense. We could not afford to blow a region game and lose our lead over Lee, and we did not have a letdown.” George Veal agrees with Steve: “Tim Bice was a terror, and so was their other backer. I think his name was Beira-- also pretty good. It was a long night trying to block these two dudes. Fortunately, Cross Keys  was weak on offense, so I was able to save my energy for blocking on offense where it was needed most.” Glenn Johnson knew a couple of the Cross Key players: “There were some ex-Blue Devils on that team. Kenneth Shedd went to AHS for his first one or two years. He would have been great at Avondale had he not transferred. The Cross Keys quarterback, Tony Griggs, beat me out for the starting QB job on the 8th grade football team. He was a good one—he just didn’t have the team around him that we did.”

Getting a Kick Out of Football
Glenn reveals a different side of Coach Ramsey: “My PAT kicks were true enough and my kickoffs carried pretty well, but Coach Ramsey noticed that I was losing distance on my kicks—not an appreciable amount, but enough that he took notice—perhaps he was thinking back to two missed PATs that ended two promising seasons. A kicking shoe has a squared-off toe like a cowboy boot, but the toe on my kicking shoe was softening and collapsing after so much use. During the week the week of the Cross Keys game, Coach presented me with a new pair of kicking shoes. I don’t know if he put them on the school account or paid for them out of his own pocket. All I know is that I didn’t have to pay for them. My kicks gained more distance immediately on kickoffs and PATs. At the end of the year, in the pre-game warm-up before  the Moultrie game, I was kicking field goals from the 40-yard line (for a 50-yard FG). Fortunately we didn’t have to attempt any field goals, but the new shoes really helped my confidence.” Glenn tells about the field goal that didn’t happen: “The Cross Keys game was the only game where I had a field goal attempt. The initial kick went right over the upright and could have been called ‘good’ or ‘bad. The referee called it ‘bad’, but Cross Keys had a penalty. There was no second kick, since the snap was fumbled. We never had to attempt another field goal – whenever we got close, we scored TDs.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964       George Veal—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964                 Eddie Sanders—AHS 1964

Blue Devils Defang Panthers
The DeKalb New Era, Thursday, October 31, 1963, by Chris Hunter—Southwest DeKalb tasted bitter defeat last Friday night as Avondale rolled to a 34-14 homecoming victory. Five thousand fans squeezed into  the stadium to watch Coach Calvin Ramsey’s Blue Devils do their stuff and view the gala activities. David Cooper, a 155-pound halfback who has been amazing spectators and opponents all year, zipped for two touchdowns before the game got to a good start. Cooper recovered a fumble on the Panther 39in the third play of the game. He then snatched a first down pass and pounded the DeKalb  line three times for the first touchdown, a two-yarder. Southwest tried to move the ball then, but again the drive led a short life. Brad Johnson, a 170-pound wingback, picked  off a Tracy Miller aerial on  the Panther 30 to position the Devils for another score. In four hauls, Cooper carried the ball to the two and crashed in to make the score 14-0. Steve Allen, a fleet halfback matching Cooper in weight, scored the last Avondale touchdown of the first half on a 12-yard pass  from quarterback Ray Myers.
YARDSTICK
Southwest DeKalb (14)                                         Avondale (34)
10                                            First Downs                 13
52                                            Yards Rushing            278
205                                          Yards Passing             71       
45                                            Yards Penalized          25
The Devils slackened off a little in the second period, but came back strong as ever to start the second half. Mike Colvard, another Avondale quarterback, finished  a drive with an 8-yard go for the score. Lanny Asamoto finished Avondale’s scoring when he broke lose a 62-yard jaunt. Glenn Johnson kicked the last of four true PATs and the Devils retired to let the Panthers have the final period. Coach Dewey Alverson’s boys used their allotted time  well and scored two touchdowns. The first came on an 11-yard pass from Tracy Miller to senior Eddie Walton. Halfback Ronnie Smith tallied the other score on a one-yard plunge and Scott Townsend kicked the two placements.
Red Mullins for the Atlanta Constitution wrote:  Cooper zipped 66 yards for the night. Including two touchdown scampers as Avondale unleashed a barrage of touchdowns to bury the Southwest DeKalb Panthers 34-14 in a 4-AAA game at Avondale Stadium. A crowd of 5,000 sat in for the Blue Devil’s homecoming that couldn’t have seen a better a sweeter show.
Score by Quarters:
Southwest DeKalb      0        0          0        14 -- 14
Avondale                     21       0          13       0 --  34
Southwest DeKalb  Scoring: TD— Eddie Walton, 1 (11-yard pass from Tracy Miller); Ronnie Smith, 1 (1-yard run); PATs—Scott Townsend , 2 (placement kicks)
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  David Cooper, 2 ( 2-yard run; 2-yard run); Steve Allen, 1 (12-yard pass from Ray Myers); Mike Colvard, 1 (8-yard run); Lanny Asamoto, 1 (62-yard run );  PATs—Glenn Johnson 4 (placement kicks)

Great to be Home
On a perfect autumn evening for football, Avondale’s  Homecoming court convened at half time. Glenda Wilson was crowned Homecoming Queen with the approval of 5,000 cheering fans. Glenda describes a special night celebrated by all Blue Devils: “September ushers in my favorite time of year…the weather cools down, fall colors abound and the football season begins!  What fun times were had at Avondale football games. Excitement would build as students and fans filled the stands, as cheerleaders rallied the crowd while the band played rousing choruses.  Weeks and weeks of practice paid off when the football team took charge of the field, the band performed outstanding half-time shows, and the majorettes and drill team performed precision routines. Floats representing each class were paraded around the track. Homecoming court members were elected to represent each class.  My dear friends ,Sherry Deems and Susan Stringer, and I  were nominated for the senior class . At halftime the court members were presented  Jeff Hamling was my escort for the evening. No one was more surprised than I when my name was called!  Steve Allen and Stanley Anderson presented me with a crown, cape and long-stemmed red roses…as well as a kiss on the cheek.  The rest of the game was a blur…except for the last few awesome touchdown plays that brought all of us  to our feet!  Another Blue Devil victory! After the game, we adjourned to the gym and danced the night away to music by Ray Charles, Elvis, the Drifters, Beach Boys, The Chiffons, The Shirelles, Martha & the Vandellas, Roy Orbison, and Bobby Darin.”

In the Huddle
Glenn makes an admission: “We had such a strong defense that opponents had a hard time scoring against us.  The score of the Southwest DeKalb game should have been 34-0, but they scored two TDs late in the game.  These two scores weren't against our first string defense.  How do I know?  I was the defensive back who gave up those two fourth quarter TD passes.  If Cooper had remained in the game, they wouldn't have scored.  I was on the scout team that ran the plays, both offense and defense, that our upcoming opponent would run. I  had been doing a pretty good job at practice on defense, so Coach decided to put me in late in the SWD game to give Cooper a breather, since he never left the field as he played offense, defense, and special teams.  After SWD scored those two TDs, Coach never let me play defense again, no matter how good I looked in practice.

Knowing Your Opponent
Bruce Mather had known a couple of SWD players—off the field they were friends, but on the field it was all about “business”: “Ronnie Mosley and Butch Casey were great friends of mine through baseball that we played at Glenwood Hills Park.  Ronnie and I played head-to-head through most of the game and, after one of our touchdowns, he was lined up opposite me again on the PAT kick and did not let friendship get in his way. I did expect a closer game with them, as I was aware of the talent they had and many of their players, all good guys who wanted to kill us.” The talent of Ronnie Mosley  at Center, Jerry Hicks at Tackle, and Butch Casey at Back was recognized, as they were All-State selections (all were Honorable Mention). Steve Mills’ perspective was: “Southwest DeKalb was just an average team with some good players. Ronnie Mosley, their center went on to play football at the Naval Academy. SWD also had a decent linebacker named Steve DeBardelaben, one of several brothers who over the years played Guard and Linebacker at SWD. Steve was the best since he was a 1st team selection to the AAA All-State team in 1965.”

The Role of “Scouts” in Our Success
Steve Mills pays tribute to the Scout Team players and the role they played in Avondale’s success: “A group that played a big role in this team’s success was the Scout Team. These were the younger and lesser skilled guys who rarely got in the game unless we had an overwhelming lead. Each Monday the coaches would distribute a detailed scouting report describing the other team's formations, personnel, favorite plays and tendencies. Sometimes the reports were 20 pages long. We were expected to know it backwards and forwards by Tuesday. The Scout Team was responsible for assuming the other team’s identity and gave us the repetitions we needed to know how to attack the opposition. The last three games against Briarcliff, Southwest DeKalb, and Druid Hills allowed these guys to be rewarded with some playing time for coming to practice every day and working every bit as hard as the regulars. Many of us who were playing had put in our time on the Scout Team in previous years and got some true game experience that was a bonus in helping us to  get where we were.”

The Asamoto Shuffle
Steve Mills gives an abbreviated explanation of a complex play that will be given in full detail in a later game:  “Lanny broke one his patented ‘Asamoto shuffle’ TDs of over 50 yards. The TD was scored off of a misdirection play where I made a fake fullback plunge over right tackle and Lanny, who was given a forward handoff, followed right tackle Ed Spencer who was pulling to the left side of the line where he trapped the defensive tackle.  All Lanny needed was a brief sliver in the line and he was gone, thanks to a host of blockers with precise execution. He later scored on the same play in the Decatur and North Fulton playoff games.” Lanny credits his supporting cast for the TD run: “Because the offensive line did such an amazing job of blocking and Steve Mills and David Cooper hit their blocks, I only had one defensive back to beat down the left sideline.” Glenn had a perfect view of this run: “Lanny was going down the sideline when I saw an SWD defender get a bead on him. Lanny faked him out of his cleats and continued  down the sideline for the score. I remember his run because he passed right in front of me on our sideline. For his efforts, Lanny was named “Back of the Week” by the WQXI radio station. Their sportscaster came to our pep rally for the Briarcliff game and presented him with a trophy.” The recognition must have added motivation to Lanny, as he scored on two long touchdowns against Briarcliff. Considering Lanny’s tendency to take off in a flash, his runs also could have been called “Asamoto Aviation” when he took off down the “gridiron runway”.


Avondale’s “One-Two” Punch at Quarterback
When Ray Myers threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Steve Allen  and Mike Colvard ran for an 8-yard score in the Southwest DeKalb game, Avondale’s successful use of a two-quarterback system in 1963 was illustrated. Steve Mills explains the ways that quarterbacks are used most often: “Most teams, and especially the good teams, have one quarterback who takes about 95% of the snaps while games are in doubt. That had been the way at Avondale for years with these quarterbacks-- Sam Taylor in 1957, Frank James  in 1958-59, Ed Pritchett in 1960, David Neville in 1961, and Tommy Leslie in 1962. The 1963 team had two quarterbacks who shared the position about 50/50. Ray Myers was a senior who was the better passer. Mike Colvard was a junior who was the better runner. Both were good leaders, and both were integral to our success. Using two quarterbacks rarely works, but it did for us. In the final playoff game with Moultrie Mike Colvard had suffered an ankle injury the previous week and could not play, so Ray Myers played by far the best game of his entire career”.

Getting Ready for the Playoffs
With two regular season games and four playoff games left, Avondale was enroute to the AAA State Championship. In these six games, the Blue Devil defensive unit would register five shutouts. Also, the offense would tally an average of more than 35 points a game. George Veal reveals the outlook of the team as the Blue Devils carried a 7-1-0 record into the Southwest DeKalb game: “Compared to the previous games, this was a  piece of cake. As a team, we were on cruise control. The offense had found its identity and gone into high gear and the defense had gone from good to fantastic. Coach Ramsey didn't want us to become complacent, so he made our practices were very tough. During the game film review, I think Coach Myers criticized about everything I did. You would have thought that we had lost by a score of 34-14. But the strategy worked as we kept getting better and better. We were thinking, ‘Look out state Championship here we come.’ It seemed that the easier the opponent, the harder the practice. In retrospect, we were just getting ready for the play offs.” Glenn had a similar view on Coach Ramsey’s method of inoculating the Blue Devils against upset losses: “Going into the Southwest DeKalb game,  we knew we had faced the toughest part of the schedule and were waiting for the playoffs.  Coach pushed us hard because he didn't want us to get complacent, and it worked.  We didn't  have a letdown for the rest of the year.  If anything we got better and better to the point that we had become a juggernaut going into the playoffs.” As of the October 22, 1963, AAA football poll, Avondale’s rankings were: #3 by The Journal and #6 by The Constitution and Westminster’s rankings were #1 by The Constitution and #2 by The Journal.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    Bruce Mather—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964       George Veal—AHS 1965
Steve Mills—AHS 1965                      David Cooper—AHS 1964

When Death Valley “Froze” Over
As you will see in the newspaper report of the Briarcliff game, the terrible weather was  given almost more “ink” than the game. Briarcliff’s 7-6 upset of Decatur  on the Decatur field was astonishing. Decatur had far more talent, so Avondale was wary of Briarcliff when playing them the following week. Death Valley did not actually freeze over, but it felt just as cold to players and spectators. Steve Mills tells how miserable night was for football: “It was about 38 degrees, the wind was blowing about 20 mph, gusting to 35-40 mph, and rain was falling in sheet-- sometimes blowing sideways. Unlike Briarcliff’s game in which they upset Decatur, they played a pretty bad game. It was almost impossible to throw the ball, but this was a good opportunity to practice ball security. I do not think we had any turnovers, but they had at least two. In spite of conditions, Lanny broke a couple of long TD runs. The first play we ran on offense was an off-tackle slant with me carrying the ball for about 5 yards. I got tackled into a huge puddle of standing water on the field, where I was  completely soaked. I was chilled to the bone and thought I would catch pneumonia.”

On such a cold night, the football players were not the only ones who felt numb, as Stephanie Strand Blomeyer recalls: “Brrrrrrrrr!!! I really remember that ICY COLD night, since the Avonettes' uniforms were….well…. short! By the time we lined up, getting ready to march onto the field and participate in the half-time festivities, we probably could have been called the ‘Red-legs’, since they certainly were. After our wonderful and entertaining Band started to play, ALL I remember is the THRILL of it ALL!”  George does have one warm feeling about the night: “After the game, I felt  proud of the fact that we had played eight quarters without giving up a touchdown. Even after all these years, that feels really good.” Since the Blue Devils shut out five teams in the final six games of the season, which included the last two regular season games and four playoff games, that has got to be a big source of continuing pride.

Asamoto, Avondale Chill Barons, 36-0
The Atlanta Journal, November 2, 1963, by Jim Carson—Fourth-ranked Avondale picked the nastiest weather of this  football season to make giant-killer Briarcliff miserable. The final score of 36-0 is not entirely indicative of the miseries the Barons must have suffered. The 2,500 spectators, who came to Avondale Stadium, will tell you that  the 40 degree temperature and the 20-mile-an-hour gusts of wind were cruel even if you were winning—or just neutral. The fact that Avondale wrapped up the Region 4-AAA East laurels went unnoticed for the Blue Devil supporters who devoted most of their second-half attention to cheering on the clock to bring a merciful end to the game. Among the misfortunes that befell the sometimes dangerous Barons were high snaps from center, a 34-point first half deficit, an absolutely stubborn Blue Devil defense, and a 145-pound halfback names Lanny Asamoto, and not necessarily in that order.
Briarcliff (0)                            Avondale (36)
6                                              First Downs                 10
101                                          Yards Rushing            376
0                                              Yards Passing             0       
67                                            Yards Penalized          40
It should be stated that Mr. Asamoto is president of the Avondale student body. He furthered his political career in the first quarter on touchdown runs of 45 and 55 yards. Quarterback Mike Colvard put the Devils out front by 19-0 with a 12-yard keeper and this swelled to 21-0 when a high snap on a Baron punt bounded out of their end zone for a safety. Halfback David Cooper scooted three yards for the fourth touchdown on the fourth play of the second quarter. But Cooper and a Baron defender became unnecessarily rough with each other  on the extra-point attempt—possibly in an effort to keep warm- and they were both asked to leave the game. Additional miseries, in the form of John Mangrum’s recovery of Mike Hannon’s fumble at the Baron 13, put the Devils in business again. Three plays later fullback Steve Mills bucked over from the one. It was not until the seventh play of the fourth quarter that the Devils scored again on another safety with an end-zone recovery by Eddie Sanders.

Score by Quarters:
Briarcliff                       0         0          0       0  --  0
Avondale                     21       13         0       2 --  36
Briarcliff  Scoring:
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  Lanny Asamoto, 2 ( 45-yard run; 55-yard run); Mike Colvard, 1 (3-yard run); Safety (Briarcliff ball out of the end zone) ; David Cooper, 1 (3-yard run); Steve Mills, 1 (1-yard run);  PATs—Glenn Johnson, 2 ( 1 placement kick; I,  run in); Eddie Sanders (2-point safety)

The Kicking Game
Steve Mills describes some of the action while playing under miserable conditions: “On an extra point play, probably after one of Lanny's two touchdowns in the first quarter, I was on the right side of the kicking formation blocking their defensive end. After the play was over, he tried to wrestle the helmet off my head and succeeded in getting the chin strap over my eyes  Then he took a swing at me, which is a pretty stupid thing to do to someone wearing football pads. If I had been able to see him, I probably would have swung back at him-- but unlike hockey, the referees quickly broke it up. The referees called a personal foul on him and tossed him out of the game. I think he probably got the better deal, because he got to go to the heated locker room, and I had to stay out there the whole second half freezing and mostly watching the scout team continuing to beat up their regulars.” David Cooper explains why he was “kicked” from the game: “After I scored in the second quarter, I was blocking on the extra point try on the left side of the line, when a player from Briarcliff continued his charge to block the kick and I kept blocking him until a ref came running in and said we were both ejected from game. That was the one and only time I was ever ejected from any game at any level. I never heard a whistle and never felt that I had done anything wrong, as I was only blocking against a persistent opponent.”

Steve had some warm thoughts but had a chilling experience: “Thank goodness we were playing Briarcliff and not a better team when David was ejected. David was a lot  of the reason Lanny, Mike Colvard, Andy Odom, Steve Allen and I had success running the ball, because every defense we played against was geared to try to stop him. I am now very jealous of David, not for his success and awards, but that he got to go to the locker room early and did not have to freeze his butt off the whole night like I did.”  David says he was unable to escape the cold: “Steve did not need to be jealous. I had to go and change from my uniform into street clothes and froze on the sidelines. It felt a lot warmer playing in the game.” George had a similar view: “We won big against Briarcliff, and we expected to do it.. As for the bad weather, I think I played most of the game, even in the second half. I was grateful, because I was able to stay warm while playing and not have to sit on the bench and freeze.”

Glenn comments on the actual “kicking game”: “The first three PAT snaps were fumbled, but I picked up the third and ran it in, so the score was 19-0 before Briarcliff’s first safety. After the third fumble, Coach Ramsey changed holders, so Mike Colvard took over. In the 2nd quarter we got one PAT kick, but we still missed a PAT kick because it was so cold and the ball was hard to handle.” Eddie Sanders was involved in another incident  with the kicking game that was not described in the newspaper: “I tackled the  kicker  in the end zone in the fourth quarter for a safety. My understanding was that I may have broken his leg. I don't know if that was true or not.”

An Unfortunate and Undeserved Call
Glenn provides a thorough explanation about the player that tangled with David: “After the first exchange between Steve and the Briarcliff player, Coach Ramsey (perhaps being protective of his players) stormed onto the field hollering threats at the other player, ‘I will get Cooper on you!’  Well,  after that outburst a target was put on David’s back, so the referees were watching him to see if something was going to happen. On the PAT kick after David’s second quarter touchdown, the Briarcliff player kept rushing and David kept blocking him. Usually the contact stops as soon as the kick is away and the defense realizes that the kick has not been blocked, but this guy kept on coming and David kept on blocking. We had been taught to block until we heard the whistle, in case there was a problem where the ball has to be run in instead of being kicked. On a PAT, the whistle is not blown until the kick goes through the uprights or if the kick was missed. On that particular play, David and the opponent had not disengaged, so the ref threw a flag and ejected both players. There was just normal blocking until the whistle blew. I don’t think ejection would have happened, if Coach Ramsey had not, in his zeal, yelled at the player in the Mills incident. On another matter, when I saw the score in the Annual, I thought it was a misprint. I didn’t realize there was a safety to offset failed PATs due to fumbled snaps. I was credited with two PATs—one kick and one that I ran in after the snap was fumbled. On the other two PATs, those snaps were fumbled without an opportunity to run it in because it was such a cold, bitter night.”

The Avondale Playbook
In just two games, Lanny Asamoto had three long touchdown runs— Southwest DeKalb-- 62-yards; and Briarcliff—45-yards and 56-yards. Steve Mills has a detailed description of the intricate misdirection play that set up the runs with timing, blocks, and precise execution: “The play started with a fake fullback plunge over right tackle and a forward handoff to Lanny who follows our pulling tackle Ed Spencer to the left side of the line where Spencer traps the defensive tackle. Our left tackle blocks down on the linebacker while the left guard and center double team their nose guard and the right guard blocks the linebacker in front of him. My job after carrying out the fake is also to engage  the defensive tackle that was playing in front of Spencer, making sure he does not penetrate and disrupt the play. All I really need to do is make a short stalemate of the tackle. The key blocks are really Spencer trapping the defensive tackle and David Bentley handling the linebacker. Lanny only needed a brief sliver and he was gone. In addition to these three TDs on this play, there may have been more. I do know Lanny gained a lot of yards in the Westminster game, but I am not sure if he scored a TD then. Going back to my fake into the line, I need to block  the defensive  tackle in the spot Spencer vacates for that position to be neutralized.”

George explains how a blocking scheme was adjusted to fit the players:  “Most of the time an offensive guard is designated to pull when a lineman is assigned to trap, but there was a specific reason for us having the tackle  pull to trap in our scheme instead of the guard. Using me to fill the tackle hole vacated by Spencer when he pulled left to block their tackle, allowed us to get a double team with the left guard and the center on the nose tackle who often outweighed Bruce Mather, our 145-pound starting center.” Bruce explains: “In just about every game, the nose guard would outweigh me by anywhere from 25 to 75 pounds. As Steve points out, Coach Ramsey anticipated this weight mismatch by setting up our double-team system of blocking.” Steve has more to say about “amazing Mather”: “Generally, when we ran plays up the middle we would try, whenever possible, to give Bruce help with a double team because of the enormous size difference held by his opponent playing across from him. If we ran off tackle or to the outside, we counted on Bruce to tie up his man one-on-one to keep him from pursuing the runner. Bruce did a great job of this each and every game. I remember the Griffin game his senior year when the nose tackle he played against weighed 280 pounds,  almost twice Bruce's size. After that game he needed to get about 10 stitches to close a nasty cut on his chin that he had throughout the game, but we ran the ball well that night and won the game as Bruce played every offensive snap.”

A Wrestling Footnote
Briarcliff was a perennial wrestling power in the 1960s—perhaps their wrestling “mentality carried over to this football game and led to their two players being ejected. David has a footnote to add: “ I believe that Briarcliff won the state wrestling championship the previous year—in the spring of  1963. At the Alabama vs. Georgia meet, Tommy Carlisle and I won in our weight classes and Briarcliff won in two weight classes. Since Briarcliff had three other wrestlers that lost, the coach from Briarcliff gave Tommy and me the Ga.- Ala. championship team trophy. He said that we deserved the trophy because we were the only state champions from Avondale and that our 100% winning was better than their 40% winning.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    David Cooper—AHS 1964    
Steve Mills—AHS 1965                      George Veal—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964       Bruce Mather—AHS 1965

Avondale Zips, 34-0
Avondale’s powerful Blue Devils wound up the regular season Saturday night at Avondale Stadium by out-manning the Druid Hills Red Devils, 34-0, for their eighth win, with only a single loss to number-one  ranked Westminster.
Druid Hills (0)                            Avondale (34)
9                                              First Downs                 10
121                                          Yards Rushing            292
34                                            Yards Passing             33       
15                                            Yards Penalized          25
The Blue Devils, warming up for next week’s Region 4-AAA  playoff with Decatur, were generous in sharing the scores made in all phases of the game. David Cooper scored on runs of 31 and 79 yards, Glenn Johnson scampered for a touchdown of 28 yards, Brad Johnson romped for a 33-yard touchdown on a pass from Ray Myers, and Andy Odom  returned a pass interception for a 35-yard touchdown. In addition, Glenn Johnson kicked four extra points.
Score by Quarters:
Druid Hills                     0         0          0       0  --  0
Avondale                      6         7          14     7 --  34
Briarcliff  Scoring:
Avondale Scoring: TDs-- David Cooper, 2 (31-yard run, 79-yard run); Andy Odom, 1 (35-yard pass interception); Brad Johnson, 1 (33-yard pass from Ray Myers); Glenn Johnson, 1 (28-yard run);  PATs—Glenn Johnson, 4 (placement kicks)

A Small World
Jerry McCumber , a Druid Hills lineman, who was named as an Honorable Mention member of the 1963 AAA All-State team had several connections with Avondale. George Veal may have met him on the gridiron, but that was just the beginning: “Jerry McCumber came to Furman where I played. He had knee problems and didn't do much at Furman.” Kay Judy Connelly is reminded that this IS a small world:  “This same Jerry McCumber, who played on the Druid Hills football team has lived on Kensington in Avondale with his family for many years. He also served a couple of terms as mayor of the City! He's a great guy and still is  paying the price of bad knees for the years he played football!”

Calling Defensive Plays
Steve Mills explains how the defense was set in anticipation of the direction in which the opponent’s play might go: “George Veal, our stellar linebacker made defensive calls. If we wanted our linemen to slant to the left, the basic call was ‘Lucky’. If we wanted a slant to the right, the call would be ‘Ringo’. Sometimes, for example, he would switch up with calls of ‘Louisiana’ and ‘Richmond’. The key for the call was the 1st letter of the call indicating the direction of the slant—‘L’ for left and ‘R’ for right. If we just wanted to play straight up, George might make a dummy call such as ‘Texas’  or ‘Alabama’. By mixing up the calls, we could keep the offense guessing. These calls would be important, especially in the Decatur and Westminster playoff games. Other teams used similar signals. I remember one team we played from out in the country used the terms ‘gee’ and ‘haw. Now we were pretty much city kids, but we were still at least as smart as a mule and it did not take us long to figure this one out.”

Football Program Player Weights Were Inflated
As the Decatur game neared, David considered  the differences between the 1962 vs. 1963 team  in some of the positions: “I was worried about anyone being able to replace Tommy Carlisle from the '62 team. Steve Mills was not as flashy, but proved to be as good as any football player that played at Avondale. He and I perfected setting up the defensive end to make the power play a weapon that opponents had not been able to stop without creating other openings in the defense. Without a good fullback like Tommy and Steve, you could not have had the type of running game that was  ‘Avondale  football’. Another key player that had to be replaced was Butch Falligant, a small guy that played center, a position that is usually filled by a much larger player. Amazingly, another small lineman stepped up to fill that position. Bruce Mather proved that ‘larger’ is not always better. I guess that our opponents thought we were a team made up of only a few players of average football size and a bunch of undersized players. Ramsey even tried to make us look larger than we were in the programs. He listed many of us as larger than our actual size. For example, I was listed as 155 pounds, but in those days I was only around 140. My regular wrestling weight class was 138 and/or 145. Later, I realized that Coach Ramsey wanted smaller, agile players at center because most teams in those days ran even fronts, making it easy for the center to be free to block downfield if he was agile enough. Bruce and Butch were almost always downfield to help running backs through the second and third levels of the defense.”

Coasting to a Win
George Veal sums up the Devil’s view of this game: “By this time our team was on a roll, and Druid Hills was just a scrimmage.” When there was a comfortable lead, a lot of players were able to come off of the bench and get some game time. Glenn Johnson has waited all of this season for the Druid Hills game: “When you see my name in the box score for a 28-yard touchdown run, that is NOT a misprint. I got to play quarterback late in some games when we had comfortable leads. Coach Ramsey did not want to take a risk of having any starters hurt after the outcome had been decided. In order to lower the chance of fumbling the ball, Coach kept it simple by having me run a lot of quarterback keepers. Some of the halfbacks understandably chafed at this game plan, but he wanted to keep handoffs to a minimum. The TD I scored is a sore point with Ray Myers, since he played the whole year and did not score a running TD. What’s more remarkable is that he never threw an interception, and there aren’t many quarterback’s who can say that. Ray missed his opportunity to have a running TD in the first Decatur game, when he missed his handoff to Steve Mills on a play that went into the middle of the line. After missing the handoff, Ray improvised and started up field. His move faked out Decatur’s defense as they swarmed Mills. Then Ray found himself all alone, going toward the goal line…but then he stumbled and missed a great chance for a running TD.” Up to the Druid Hills game, Ray had thrown five touchdown passes and a respectable 412 yards for a team that relied on its running attack. Glenn tells where the passing game fit in to the game plan:  “We didn’t have to pass much because we had such a strong running game. When we did pass, it usually caught the other team off guard and most of his receivers were wide open.”

The Oxygen Tank
Beginning in the 1950s, an oxygen tank was kept near the bench to be used by players after a long run to help them “catch their breath“,  so they would be ready to go back in the game. David remembers the tank, but not in a good way:   “An oxygen tank was kept on the  bench-- I know because one time, after a long run, someone tried to put a mask over my mouth and nose. It felt like a was being smothered. I was angry until I was told that Coach Ramsey had told them to give it to me. I let them know I did not like or want it. I don't know if anyone else ever used it. I believe that we were in such good condition that most of us never needed it.” In the 1950s, as Avondale’s reputation grew, the Blue Devils were known as a ‘second-half team’ because of the team’s stamina and conditioning. Regardless of our talent level, Avondale could outlast most decent teams and find a way to win. As the 1963 season progressed, the Blue Devils had no problem ”finding a way” to win.

Our Unheralded Team

Avondale faced Druid Hills, which  had four players who would be named to the All-State team: 1st Team-- Wayne Brooks, Guard; Honorable Mention—Jim Wansley, Back; Tommy Hannah, End; Jerry McCumber, Lineman. In most games, the Blue Devils played against teams with two to four, and sometimes more, players named to the AAA All-State team on “1st Team” or “Honorable Mention”. The irony is that only David Cooper was given All-State recognition in 1963; however, in 1964  nine of our “unheralded players”, who made the 1963 season such a success, earned All-State recognition: 1st Team—Steve Mills, Back; George Veal, Guard. Honorable Mention—Bob Bowen, Guard; Mike Colvard, Back; Gerry Gulledge, Tackle; Brad Johnson, Back; John Mangrum, End; Ed Spencer, Tackle; Gary West, Back. George points out Avondale’s uniqueness: “There were a lot of very good players on our team who were not quite  All-State caliber. So even though we had only one All-State player in 1963—David Cooper-- I don't think that our competition had near as many very good players as we did. Our excellent coaching was another factor, of course. We had great team chemistry, and I think we genuinely liked each other.”  Players from our most successful teams have said the same thing about team chemistry. As a team, they excelled because they knew each other so well and did not want to let each other down. Some who got college scholarships after playing starring roles at Avondale may not have done as well in college, because they did not have the sense of ‘family support’. Strong bonds were nurtured and reinforced by the satisfaction of accomplishment and the rewards from winning together. 

Coach Ramsey’s Test
Richard Smith shares a belief:  I think Coach Ramsey may have said this first and Bear Bryant may have adopted it as his own: ‘If a man is a quitter, I’d rather find out in practice than in a game. I ask for all a player has to give, so I’ll know later what I can expect’.”  Football players were first tested in the heat of summer with two-a-day practices that were replaced by grueling after-school drills and the heat of battle on the grid iron where players earned the right to be called “Avondale Blue Devils” Andy Odom adds a statement about conditioning and the tough practice regimen at Avondale: “When I reported to Tennessee Tech for summer practice, I kept waiting for the ‘college is harder’ to hit me.  After a week of two-a-days there, I realized that I didn't have anything to worry about.  These practices weren't nearly as tough as Ramsey's. I don't know if any of the other guys experienced the same at their colleges.” George Veal agrees: “I agree with Andy’s comment about how much easier practice was in college compared to Avondale. I experienced the same thing at Furman, and we never had a winning season.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                    Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964.      George Veal—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964

Playoffs Begin, With Scores to Settle and More
Avondale was faced with a formidable task, as the Blue Devils prepared to meet number-5 ranked Decatur for the 4-AAA championship. Although Avondale had a convincing, 21-6, victory five weeks earlier, a repeat win could not be expected. Statistically,  high school football teams seldom win a second encounter in games against the same opponent, especially when playing on their opponent’s field twice. Decatur validated those statistics in 1962. Too painful was the memory of our 7-6 playoff loss to Decatur in 1962 after handily defeating the Bulldogs 24-0 in the regular season. Avondale would defy those statistics in 1963  by winning the first game convincingly, then posting a dominating win in the playoff game on the same field.  Most writers seemed to expect a Decatur upset win. In the Charlie Roberts column, he “sang the praises” of Decatur’s athletes with hardly a mention of Avondale players. Roberts had followed the pattern in his column published before the first Decatur game. Both Charlie Roberts and Coach Franklin Brooks conceded Avondale’s superiority. The Blue Devils were committed to atoning for the 1962 loss to Decatur, settling a score with Westminster, and reaching the AAA football championship pinnacle. Steve Mills understands how the newspapers reported that Decatur had a good chance of upsetting Avondale: “From the articles in the paper, it was clear Decatur thought they had every chance to win. After all the, game was to be played on their home field. We had beaten them in the regular season, 21-6, but that was less than the 24-0 beat down we had given them  in 1962 when they returned to our home field and won the rematch, 7-6, in the driving rain. They had the benefit of returning their all-star running back Walter Chadwick, their two-year starter quarterback Owen Cardell, and many other letterman from that playoff game. On the other hand, David Cooper was the only player we had back who had played significantly in the previous year's game.”

As you read these pre-game articles, consider your mindset at the time. Already knowing the outcome of this game steals the mixed moments of certainty and doubt that you experienced leading up to this contest, but now you can relish the surge of excitement with each score that buried Decatur’s hopes deeper. The final score only confirmed your belief that you were cheering on the “Destiny Devils”. Three more teams stood between Avondale and its appointed coronation as state champs, but the team and faithful fans could see the future. Reliving those moments today…is priceless.

Avondale Meets Tough Decatur
The Atlanta Journal, November 14, 1963, by Terry Kay—On Friday night the 4-AAA region championship will be decided at Decatur when the Bulldogs play host to rival Avondale. Though Avondale won the regular season encounter, 21-6, there is a strong rumor of upset among pro-Decatur fans. Both teams must stop running threats, David Cooper and Lanny Asamoto of Avondale and Walter Chadwick and Josh Veal  of Decatur. Because of the past history of the two schools, the word is out that this will probably be the finest game of the weekend as 11,000 people are expected  to view the drama on the gridiron.

Avondale Favored in Crown Struggle
The Atlanta Constitution, November 14, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Avondale is picked a six-point favorite over Decatur. Avondale, loser only to Westminster, 7-0,  thumped Decatur before 10,000 at Decatur in regular season, 21-6. But a year ago the Imps won the regular season game, 24-0, and the Bulldogs came back for a title-winning 7-6 upset in the playoff.

Franklin Brooks, Decatur coach, is unwilling to concede that Avondale has any of the better of this time either, saying, “We’ll have to play our best game, but we have a good chance to beat them.” He points with pride to what he considers the most outstanding line in Greater Atlanta (but not outside of Avondale), headed by linebacker Dennis Byerly and tackle Eddie Foster, plus the well-publicized “moving men,”  quarterback Owen Cardell and halfback Walter Chadwick. Cardell, rated by Brooks as the best quarterback around, rolled up 1,040 yards of total offense—including 473 yards rushing—tossed 10 touchdown passes and scored three himself. Chadwick, 185-pound senior workhorse, stormed for 66 points and 1.141 yards over-land and picked up 300 more yards via receptions and southpaw tosses. End Bob Ivey, an awesome prospect  of 6-3, 195 pounds, has snared 16 passes, four for touchdowns. End Warren Griffin, now off the injury list, has matched him in recent games. Brooks adds them to guard Sammy Davis and center Gene Wagner and thinks they may mount up the victory in spite of Avondale and dreaded David Cooper.

Playoff Preparations
David Cooper describes Coach Ramsey’s approach to preparing for the playoffs:  “The four weeks of practice during the playoffs were memorable because we did not practice in pads the entire time. Coach Ramsey said he was not concerned about our team being ready to ‘hit’ and did not want us to injure each other during practice. He therefore had us practice in sweats all week long. We worked on fine tuning on offense, defense, and special teams. I always felt that this made us more ready for contact by game time. The only thing that made the practices hard was the conditioning at the end of each practice.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
David Cooper—AHS 1964
Steve Mills-- 1965

No Mercy Was Given
The Blue Devils unleashed merciless wrath upon the Bulldogs, who stole the 1962 team’s dreams of playoff conquest. Nothing could restore a lost dream, but there was salve for those wounds as the 1963 team applied a stunning 42-14 beat-down to progress to the playoff showdown with Westminster. Decatur won the toss and moved the ball well on their first series, but  as soon as Avondale got the ball the Devils turned the contest into a one-sided game.  A fine-tuned offense moved the ball in huge chunks and seemingly scored at will. The first team defense allowed one meaningless touchdown—the last score yielded in the final 13 quarters of the playoffs against top-ranked teams.

Crushing Avondale Rushing Results in Decatur Blushing
The Atlanta Constitution, November 16, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Avondale’s awesome infantry wreaked terrible vengeance on Decatur Friday night, trampling the home-soil defenders in a show of might that left the Bulldogs rocked and reeling, 42-12, and 10,000 fans dazed and dazzled. The Blue Devils, a solemn vow on their lips that they could not be upset by their neighbors in the Region 4-AAA for a second straight year, rolled up a 28-0 halftime lead and stretched it to 35-0 before the Western Division champs could put any points on the scoreboard in the third quarter.

Coach Calvin Ramsey’s Imps struck with such deadly force that they owned a 14-0 bulge after possessing the football for only six plays, and it was immaterial that the Bulldogs’ Owen Cardell put on the most spectacular aerial counterattack of the year, hitting targets on 12 of 15 pitches for 245 yards—195 of it in the second half. Relentless Avondale, 21-6  winners over Franklin Brooks’ Bulldogs in regular season stormed for 457 yards total offense not including David Cooper’s 73-yard punt return for the second touchdown of the first quarter. So unstoppable were the Devils, who were not forced to punt  until late in the third quarter, that five backs—Mike Colvard, Lanny Asamoto, Steve Mills, Ray Myers and Andy Odom—averaged more than five yards per carry. Myers, who divided quarterback chores with Colvard, hit three of four passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, Steve Allen hauling in 60 and 32-yard scoring strikes in the second period. The biggest irony of the night was that the feared  Cooper, who gained only 14 yards on seven snaps, was the only Avondale  back the Bulldogs bottled up from scrimmage. Glenn (Automatic Toe) Johnson booted six straight conversion points as Avondale mounted its highest point totals of the season in tuning up for next week’s playoff with Westminster’s Region 5-AAA kings. 
Avondale (42)                         Decatur (14)
16                                            First Downs                 11
340                                          Yards Rushing            36
117                                          Yards Passing             245       
57                                            Yards Penalized          60
Colvard, the Devil’s “running quarterback,” was the most devastating ground eater of all as he  stormed along for 102 yards on six totes, only six of it on his one lug in the second half. Asamoto stormed 97 yards on just four carries,  rollicking for 42 yards to the Decatur 47 on Avondale’s first scrimmage play and racing  for a 50-yard touchdown and a 35-0 lead on the third play of the second half. Mills thrashed 46 yards on nine plunges. Decatur never recovered  after Colvard ran  successive “keepers”, first for 22 yards then finishing the first drive with a 25-yard run for the first  score with 4:08 left in the first quarter.  The honor of scoring the last touchdown from a yard out with just 16 seconds remaining was left to Steve Mills, the bullish fullback  at the tag end of an 82-yard drive that featured Myer’s 25-yard run and a 25-yard Myers-Eddie Sanders pass. The final surge, because of penalties against Avondale, actually carried across 102-yards of real estate. Myers bounded for 40 yards on four totes, Odom 12 on just two.

The Bulldogs’ comeback, futile as it was, was one of the season’s most spectacular. Cardell, thrown for eight losses totaling 38 yards by the Devil’s defense, seldom missed when he got flings away. He hit end Bob Ivey  six times for 127 yards. Brilliant Ivey, backing the line ably on defense, scored both Decatur touchdowns in a space of 15 official seconds in the dying  moments of the third chapter. The first came on  a five-yard pitch from Cardell who had just connected with Tommy Taffs, Ivey and Walter Chadwick  with 13, 12 and 42 yarders. Buddy Fowlkes tacked on one  extra point and duplicated moments later after Ivey fielded Asamoto’s fumble  on the kick off  and scored from 26 yards out. The vaunted Chadwick played a fine game, running 12 times for 52 yards  and snagging four Cardell flings for 95, but the Decatur defense never found a way to halt the hell-bent Devils. Avondale will meet Westminster on Friday, November 22nd at Avondale Stadium.
Score by Quarters:
Avondale          14       14         7         7  -- 42
Decatur           0         0          14        0 --  14
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  Mike Colvard, 1 (25-yard run); David Cooper, 1 (73-yard punt return); Steve Allen, 2 (60-yard pass from Ray Myers, 32-yard pass from Ray Myers); Lanny Asamoto, 1 (50-yard run);  Steve Mills, 1 (1-yard run);  PATs—Glenn Johnson, 6 ( 6 kicks)
Decatur Scoring:  TDs—Ivey, 2 (5-yard pass from Cardell; 26-yard with recovered fumble); PATs—Fowlkes,  2 (kicks)

AVONDALE “AVALANCHE” BURIES BULLDOGS DEEP
Colvard Leads Devil Rushers  in 42-14 Riot
The Atlanta Journal, November 15, 1963, by Terry Kay—Franklin Brooks sat there, all alone in a hurt little corner of the world. He shook his head, but the feeling did not go away. “They beat us,” he said. “They just plain beat us. I don’t think I will ever see a team so ready for a game. That Cooper is great and Colvard and…and the rest of them. They’ll represent the region well.” Brooks was speaking, naturally, of Avondale, of David Cooper, of Mike Colvard and their Blue Devil cohorts who had just spent the evening annihilating Brooks’ Decatur team, 42-14, before almost 10,000 people at Decatur Stadium. With the victory, Avondale earned the title of Region 4-AAA champions.
It did not take long for matters to be settled Friday night. The Blue Devils started adding points with a little over six minutes left in the first period and did not quit until there were only 16 seconds remaining  in the game. In between these time periods, Avondale sent Colvard, Cooper, Lanny Asamoto, Steve Allen and Steve Mills across the lime line which designated the Decatur end zone. Asamoto, a halfback of considerable merit, turned the game into a offensive  evening  on the first play, sprinting 42 yards. Four rushing attempts later the Blue Devils were in for a second score, due mainly to  22-yard and 25-yard plays executed by Colvard—a play which was bread and jam to the Blue Devils all night. His 25-yarder for a score was followed by the first of six PATs kicked by Glenn Johnson. A Decatur punt later—fielded by David Cooper—Avondale had scored again, for the stubborn little runner flashed 73 yards on the return, completely breaking out of Bulldog Warren Griffin’s tackle. Then came two scoring passes—Ray Myers to Steve Allen for 60 and 32 yards—and a 50-yard dash by Asamoto. Steve Mills scored the last on a one-yard plunge.

Decatur, with Owen Cardell tossing, went on a drive which culminated in a five-yard scoring pass to Bob Ivey, a marvelous hunk of an athlete. The score was aided by a 42-yard reception by heralded Walter Chadwick. On the kickoff, Decatur bounced the ball off of Asamoto and Ivey seized the ball  and trotted in to the end zone from 26 yards away. But that was all for the Bulldogs.

The victory for Calvin Ramsey was one of the finest of his career at Avondale. “Heck yes I am proud of it,” he said. “They all played excellent ball, and you’ve got to remember they’re just kids. We lost 15 of our first 16 men last year. They’ve just wanted to play and Coach  Ed Myers had our line ready.  He deserves a lot of credit.“ Avondale will now meet Westminster next Friday at Avondale to decide which team will play the champion of Region 3-AAA for the North Georgia title. Statistically, neither of the two highly publicized halfbacks, Chadwick of Decatur and Cooper of Avondale, had a great night running. Chadwick gained 56 yards on 12 attempts, but caught three passes for 70 yards. Cooper, other than his 73-yard return, gained 17 yards on four carries. Colvard had 107 yards and Asamoto  had 97 yards on four rushes

Most of Decatur’s yardage came through the air—245 yards, to be exact. The Bulldogs gained 53 on the ground while Avondale ate up 343 yards running and 117 passing. Bob Bowen and George Veal were leading Avondale defenders, while Ivey, Cardell, Chadwick and Arthur Sammons  spearheaded Decatur’s defense. Ivey pulled off one of the night’s finest plays when he out-dueled two Avondale men for a 67-yard pass reception.

Learning a Lot

Stephanie Strand Blomeyer  has a new appreciation for our Blue Devils: “I have learned so much more than I have EVER known about football in general and our Blue Devil Team in particular! As I stated before, I used to think that the Managers just took care of the equipment. Now, I know that they assisted our wonderful Dr. Powell in keeping our players wrapped, bandage and IN the game! I must say that I have renewed respect for Eddie Sanders et al playing despite what sounded like a lot  MORE than bumps and bruises they got from some of these hard-fought games!” Stephanie, you are about to learn a whole lot more about football with today’s football tutorial. Avondale’s game plan, which exploited Decatur’s weaknesses, will reveal how a smaller, faster, smarter, better coached team could rout a Bulldog team loaded with size and talent. You will “flip out” when you join the team in the locker room at half-time and, once again, revel in Avondale’s decisive 42-14 victory.

Avondale’s Advantage
Our advantage began with coaching—fundamentals, discipline, commitment to win, and identifying flaws or tendencies just to name a few. George Veal identifies a critical observation that our coaches made that exploited Decatur’s weaknesses: “Since we had already met and defeated Decatur during the regular season, Coach Ramsey detected a flaw in their defense, so he installed a ‘lonesome end’ offensive formation. The flaw was that Decatur didn't adjust their defense to our ‘over shift’, where we line up with more players on one side of the ball. For example, we would line up with two players to the right of the center (guard and tackle) and with four players to the left of the center (end flanked out to left, end, tackle and guard). When we lined up in an over-shifted formation, Decatur would not adjust to it . This would give us the advantage of having an extra blocker on the over-shifted side. We would run the ball to the over-shifted side where, we in effect, had an extra blocker. It was like having an extra man on the field. If you have two teams that are equal, but you give one of them ‘an extra man’,  that team is probably going to win. It worked like a charm for us. By the time Decatur figured out what was happening, we were ahead two touchdowns.” Steve describes the first of those two touchdowns: “When we got to mid-field, we lined up unbalanced left, motioned the slotback left, then Mike Colvard rolled to the left way behind a wall of blockers who outnumbered Decatur's defenders. I had to run about 20 yards before finding someone to block. I think Mike gained 22 yards.  We quickly lined up the same way, ran the same play where Mike ran 25 yards for a TD—this time I could not find anyone to block. The roll out of the unbalanced formation, which Decatur had never seen, gave us an offensive edge.” 
  
Stopping Chadwick
George explains how the defense was able to stop Decatur’s star running back, Walter Chadwick: “Once again, the coaches came through for us when they had noticed that, if  Walter would put his right hand down, he was going to run to the right. If he put his left hand down, he was running to the left.” Steve describes the effectiveness of the defense: “After the opening kickoff, our defense slanted in the direction of Walter Chadwick's initial move, so we were able to  absolutely crush their offense. Frank Owen, Ricky Black, Stanley Anderson, Bob Bowen, David Cooper, Mike Colvard, Andy Odom, Brad Johnson, Eddie Sanders, John Mangrum, Steve Allen, Wade Wilkes, Jim Sharpe and our signal caller, George Veal, were at their best. They allowed 14 meaningless second-half points after we had built a 35-0 lead. We did not know it at the time that those would be the last points allowed by our team that year.” Steve explains the importance of the read our coaches got on Chadwick’s tendency: “It was almost like being in the huddle with them as they called their plays. Our defense was outstanding anyway and, although this gave us more of an edge, we completely shut down Decatur in the 1st half. All night long we slanted our defensive line in the direction of Walter's hand to where he was going to run, but they never caught on.“ George continues the explanation: “Poor Walter wasn't able to get out of the backfield. We were all surprised at how easy this game was.”

Hard Hitting
Steve Mills describes his collision with Decatur’s All-Star tackle David Brookshire: “On the slotback trap play previously described on which Lanny had scored three TDs in the Southwest DeKalb and Briarcliff games, Brookshire was the tackle who stunned me when I faked a plunge toward him in the spot vacated by Ed Spencer as he pulled to the left. Brookshire hit me as hard as I have ever been hit. We had a 28-0 halftime lead and any hope that Decatur had of making a comeback was crushed when Lanny bolted 50-yards for a TD early in the third quarter that ran up the score to 35-0. After the run, I tried to clear my head from the bells that were ringing in my head and staggered on wobbly legs toward the goal line to line up for the extra point. Unexpectedly,  Brad Johnson came running toward me and, as he shoved me toward the sideline, he said, ‘I have got this one, Steve’, and took my position on the extra point team. I was grateful for his relief. I recovered quickly after Brookshire had "rung my bell" and after the next defensive series was able to return for the end of the game.  As I took off my uniform to head to the showers and  as the adrenalin had subsided a bit, I started to notice a bit of throbbing in my right knee. When I looked down and it was slightly swollen. By this late season game, the Decatur field had little grass and was pretty hard, so my knee was bruised a bit.”

Cooper’s “Quiet” Night
The newspaper reported that David Cooper had a relatively quiet night as he only had a 73-yard punt return and ran for 17 yards on four carries, but that is not a true picture of his contribution. David doesn’t have specific recall about the second Decatur game, but he said, “I do remember that I only ran the ball a few times to help set up the traps and reverses. The defense was really concentrating on stopping our power play, and as Coach Ramsey had predicted, so this opened up some other plays that were successful.” Steve disagreed with Terry Kay’s view of David’s role in the game: “In the first game, David Cooper had a big game and, if we were to win again, he would need to have another-- and he did. After going three-and-out, Decatur mistakenly kicked the ball to the dangerous Mr. Cooper, who proceeded to bounce off three or four would-be tacklers, to find the blocking wall, and to not stop until he had run 73 yards to give us a 14-0 lead midway through the 1st quarter. We had stunned them and they never recovered-- they should have kicked it out of bounds. We entered the locker room at halftime with a 28-0 lead, where the athletic Mr. Cooper did a front flip on the concrete floor, punctuating what was, by far, the best half of football we had played all year! I remember Coach Ramsey saying, ‘Settle down, settle down!’, but he could not conceal his own excitement.” Glenn tells about a moving speech: “ At halftime, David Cooper gave the most impassioned speech of the year. He reminded us of how bad we felt the year before when Decatur upset us. He made sure that we weren’t going to let up in the second half. Coach Ramsey didn’t have to say a word.” David does not recall much about the speech but he said, “I do remember trying to let the others know how important it was not to let up, because we could not let them feel they still could win. I reminded them of the game the year before when we beat them 24-0, not including three or four touchdowns that were called back during the season, but only to let them upset us, 7-6,  to end our season in that playoff game. We did not want to let up and give a capable team any opportunity to gain momentum.”

The “Jet” Team
Glenn tells how Coach Ramsey achieved the best utilization of talent on kickoff returns: “Coach was always fiddling with personnel to achieve the best use of our skills. By the time we got to the playoffs, Coach had set up his ‘jet’ team that consisted of the faster players on the team who could get down the field on a punt return and set up a blocking wall for Cooper, the receiver. While we were practicing punt returns during the week leading up to the Decatur game, I blocked Andy Odom. While he was down, I rolled over on top of him so that he couldn’t get up. I thought he would be furious, but when he got up he looked at me and said, ‘ Good block, Scottdale.’ That was the best compliment I ever got on the practice field. On our punt returns during the Decatur game, I was lined up in the middle of the return formation and was assigned to block the first person coming down the middle of the field. On a particular punt, I blocked the center to the ground. After he got up and ran down the field, I pursued him down the field to continue blocking when I saw Cardell, the punter drifting over toward the sideline. I hadn’t heard a whistle so I ran over and blocked him. It wasn’t a great block—I just got in his way enough to keep him from making a play. Just as we disengaged, I looked over and there went Cooper down the sideline to score on a return. I never saw one man bring down Cooper, but I felt good that I had made the last block  that helped him complete a 73-yard return for a TD. This was just a little personal victory in a game since he had been taught ‘to win by never quitting’.”

In the Huddle
Glenn Johnson was in the “zone” when he kicked six PATs: “I was taking my time to make sure that I got off a good kick. When we watched the game film the next Monday, Coach remarked that every kick was almost blocked. I never noticed, since I was so dialed in on those kicks.” Steve Mills tells about Steve Allen’s changing role on offense: “While our defense continued to stuff Decatur, Ray Myers, our passing quarterback, heated up his aerial attack. Steve Allen, who had played great defensively in the first Decatur game by making three interceptions, had impressed the coaches enough with his ‘hands’ that they had started to spot him on offense at tight end. Steve and Ray hooked up on 60-yard and 32-yard touchdown catches  that put us ahead at halftime, 28-0.”

On Decatur’s Field  
Stephanie Strand Blomeyer was on Decatur’s field, too: “I certainly remember THIS REALLY BIG GAME; and, I guess it was due to our 1962 loss. We had a lot invested in this BIG WIN as evidenced by these most interesting memories! I know for one, I was totally exhausted after this game; and, I was only on the field during half-time!”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960                                George Veal—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964                     Steve Mills—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964

No Time for Celebration
Celebrating the 42-14 Decatur playoff victory was short lived, since No. 1 ranked Westminster had to be conquered in order to remain alive in the playoffs. The Blue Devil defense, which had not allowed the Wildcats to score, was ready to make a STATEMENT. The offense needed to show how much they had improved by scoring at point levels that had been attained as the season progressed. Playing at “Death Valley” definitely provided a sense of comfort and confidence. Thus, Friday night, November 22nd, 1963, couldn’t arrive fast enough to atone for the sole, 7-0, blemish on Avondale’s record….but we know, and will remember, the improbable and shocking event that postponed the game. The next chapter of Avondale’s football history would be written on a cold, rainy night on a muddy stage. The sports pundits still needed one more dominating win over a top-ranked team to become true believers. Steve Mills describes Avondale’s challenge   “After defeating Decatur, there was little time for celebration. Westminster, the team who had beaten us earlier  by 7-0 was our  next playoff opponent. They had a 10-0-1 record, with the only blemish being from a tie with a good Marietta team. Westminster was ranked # 1 in all of the November 19, 1963 polls. They had shut out six teams, had not given up more than 14 points in any game and had held us scoreless. Their only score in the first game was on a kickoff return. A defensive struggle was expected, even though our defense had held them scoreless. Their offense, featuring  quarterback Tommy Chapman, fullback Earl Seagraves and halfback Buzz Wisdom, running behind a huge offensive line, had gashed us for significant yardage in the first game. We knew we had to find a way to do better and fortunately our coaches did.”

Avondale Vs. Westminster Is Largest of the Large
Two Region Powers Meet Again at Avondale
The Atlanta Journal, November 20, 1963, by Terry Kay— The game between Westminster and Avondale  in the place called “Death Valley”  on Friday night promises to be the most exciting game to be played in north Georgia in many years. Avondale, for the sake of the unlearned, is the champion of Region 4-AAA. Westminster is the champion of Region 5-AAA, and the two teams have a meeting to decide which of the two regions is the stronger. After that, the winner will turn right around and challenge the winner of Brown vs. North Fulton in the Milk Bowl. The Milk Bowl is really a playoff for the 3-AAA title and since someone must get the bye in the playoffs of the three regions, it fell to the  3-AAA representative to wait while the other two fought it out.

There are several reasons one could expect the Avondale-Westminster match to be matchless in this week’s playoff competition. First, the two have already played once this year. Westminster won, 7-0, but the game and the score will mean little this time around. Avondale had not been defeated before meeting the Wildcats, nor since. The Wildcats went through the season undefeated, though tied by Marietta, 14-14. Last week both teams won their regions. Westminster stopped GMA, 14-0, and Avondale roared past Decatur, 42-14. The scores in these two games have a basis for analysis of the Friday night clash. Both Decatur and GMA were expected to be stubborn opponents. GMA lived up to the expectations and though Decatur did not play the type of ball it was capable of playing , Avondale simply picked the Bulldogs to pieces, particularly around the ends and off tackle. If the Blue Devils rely upon the same formula against Westminster, they may find the yards harder to gain. Westminster is blessed with excellent ends and linebackers and in the first game this year, Avondale found that the lack of getting outside hurt its offensive game. But there is another consideration which will surely have its affect. Avondale is playing on its own home field and the Blue Devils have only been defeated there once in all the years of its existence. The Blue Devils have intense pride in this record and probably plays a bigger morale factor  than anything.

Coaches “Ain’t Makin’” No Playoff Predictions
The Atlanta Constitution, November 21, 1963, by Ray Tapley—The six high school coaches whose teams are involved in the Atlanta area’s three biggest playoff games would never be accused of making bold predictions like real pollsters. Most coaches mimicked Coach Calvin Ramsey when he said, “Our team has improved a lot, but I suppose theirs has , too.” Avondale’s Harold Bright is definitely out as a result of injuries  sustained last week, otherwise the Blue Devils are in good physical condition. Ramsey added, “ Our boys know exactly  what they have to do to win, since they’ve played Westminster before. Our weight disadvantage was the big factor in the other game.” Coach Charlie Brake agreed: “I suppose it’s true that we have the bigger team, but they have the speed. We’ll play the same type of game as before—straight football. No, we have no fear of Death Valley, although, naturally, the home team has an advantage.”

Mills Is Big Question
The Atlanta Journal, Thursday, November 21, 1963, by Terry Kay--  Avondale’s Calvin Ramsey had a worried tone in his voice. He had reasons. Steve Mills, who rises to 170 pounds of fullback, started out the week on crutches. “We don’t know about Steve,” Ramsey commented. “He got his knee hurt in the Decatur game and we aren’t sure  how ready he will be for  Westminster this Friday night. If we have to go without him,  or if he only sees limited action, it will hurt.” Mills, a valuable player in the Blue Devils’ plan, had been counted on heavily in Avondale’s  Friday evening encounter with Westminster for a portion of the north Georgia AAA playoffs. The winner will  challenge either Brown or North Fulton for the north Georgia AAA title. In Avondale’s Slot-T attack, Mills is a primary blocker and his running patterns are designed to get the tough, short yardage. The promising junior can do both with the best in the state. Coach Ramsey could afford to lose anyone in the backfield— even sensational David Cooper—easier than Mills, for there is none with appreciable experience to fill in for him. “Certainly we respect him,” commented Westminster Coach Charlie Brake. “He’s a tough blocker and probably the most underrated player around. He hits hard and he’s hard to bring down.”

The game is expected to be a battle of two quick, aggressive lines. Both teams will try to contain the end play. Westminster’s Tommy Chapman is excellent on the option and halfback Buzz Wisdom is a strong outside runner. Avondale has David Cooper, Lanny Asamoto and quarterback Mike Colvard, a sprinter who loves to go right and left. Both teams can crack the middle. If Mills is well, he can gain ground. The Wildcats have Earl Seagraves, who gave Avondale fits in the first game between the two back in September, when Westminster won, 7-0.  Ramsey has high praise for  Chapman, a junior who does damage three ways—passing, running and punting. “He hurt us bad on third down situations before,” said Ramsey. “I’d say he is the best quarterback we have faced all year.” 

Title-Grabbing Blue Devils to Seek Another Friday
The DeKalb New Era, Thursday, November 21, 1963, by Bettyann Lingle—The Blue Devils defeated Decatur by the fantastic score of 42-14 and won the Region 4-AAA championship.  Avondale will meet Westminster on Friday, November 22nd in our stadium. The Blue Devils did such a thorough job in beating Decatur that our team was named ‘Co-Team’ of the week in the weekly Prep Honor Roll. Also honored were our ‘running quarterback’, Mike Colvard, for his touchdown and 102 yards in six carries; and Ray Myers, our ‘passing quarterback’, for his two touchdown passes.

IS AVONDALE JUST A MYTH?
Westminster Challenges Record of Powerful Blue Devil Squad
The Atlanta Journal, November 23, 1963, by Terry Kay— Because a man died on Friday— a man who sometimes indulged in the happy sport of touch football—the two schools of Avondale and Westminster got a reprieve from one another Friday night, but were scheduled  to take up the matter of superiority at Avondale Stadium Saturday evening at 7:30. The untimely and tragic death of President John F. Kennedy, whose contributions to physical fitness became a national project, prompted postponement  of the meeting between the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the state. But the action was understandable. Respect, in its highest form, won out Friday night.

When the two teams meet Saturday night there will be one factor highly apparent in the game. Westminster will be playing Avondale at Avondale and no one has done that very successfully. The Blue Devils have been defeated  only once defending their home soil. But there are exceptions and it is plain that no occasion in the history of Avondale was ever so ripe for the turning of events. Coach Calvin Ramsey’s Avondale squad will have its most difficult time in the length of remembering, if it is to keep the honor of victory at Avondale. “Certainly the home field is an advantage,” said Westminster Coach Charlie Brake Friday night. “Especially if you have a record like Avondale. But I feel this is a real challenge. Avondale can be beat at Avondale. Decatur proved that last year when they won the region, 7-6. And I don’t think it will make any difference at all in the effort of our boys. I feel the team can rise to the occasion of the ‘jinx’.” Actually, much has been said about Avondale’s chances of victory. Practically every coach contacted in a Journal poll agreed that the Blue Devils  were the logical winners, but perhaps one thing has been overlooked. Westminster, only two years in Class AAA competition  and twice winner  of 5-AAA, is the consensus pick  of a board of sportswriters as the No. 1 team in the state and this was not earned through political influence. Too, the Wildcats have faced a slightly tougher schedule in the latter part of the season than Avondale. Only a 14-14 tie with Marietta , the pre-season 5-AAA pick, marred  the Wildcat’s record. Then, putting it in printer’s ink, Westminster has the bigger team and perhaps the tougher defense. Avondale has a talented backfield  and fairly good depth, but the Blue Devils are not reputed to have a quarterback in the class of Westminster’s Tommy Chapman. In fact it takes three Avondale men to do what Chapman alone does. Thus, Saturday night will tell the difference. Avondale likes the idea of turning its home victory streak into something of a legend. Westminster is determined to prove it merely a myth.

Injury? …What Injury?
Steve Mills provides some background regarding his injury: “I woke up Saturday after the Decatur game with a very sore, swollen  knee. I reported to the locker room where we had been told to go if we felt we needed treatment. Dr. Powell came by and sent me to the emergency room for an x-ray. As I expected, it was only a bruise, but they did drain about a half cup of liquid-- a mixture of clear fluid and blood. I was given crutches and told to stay off it. The swelling came down and the pain subsided after the draining. I thought the crutches were a huge overreaction.  I never had a doubt that I would be at full speed and play in the Westminster game. I missed practice for three days, but I was running full speed and practiced on Thursday. Other than losing a bit of conditioning, I was none the worse for wear. Since my play was limited to offense, the conditioning thing was not a big issue.” Steve has a question about the origins of the “Mills Is Big Question” article: “I forgot anything like that ever got into the paper. Believe me, had there been any question about me playing it would have never made the paper. Coach Ramsey definitely wanted to plant that possibility in their head, but I do not think you will see anything in the paper before the Moultrie game about Mike Colvard being injured and missing the game.” As it turns out, Steve had such a great game against Westminster to the chagrin of the Wildcats, that he shared the headline in a news story about Avondale’s 28-0 win.

The Postponement
 Steve Mills recalls Friday, November 22nd : “Everyone was expecting a titanic defensive struggle, just like game one. The school was electric with anticipation, fueled by a morning pep rally. I don't know how others felt, but I expected a hard hitting battle with no degree of confidence that we would win, although we did have the home field advantage. About midday the news came in that our President had been shot. We were in shock. At about two President Kennedy was pronounced dead. There was a huge buzz going on, as we wondered whether we would play or not. At the end of the school day, the team gathered in a classroom in the basement of building 3 to go over our game plan as we did before every home game. This took about an hour, then just as we prepared to leave and get in booster's cars to go to our pregame meal at Davis Brothers in Belvedere (roast beef, mashed potatoes, green peas, ice tea and vanilla ice cream), word came that the game had been postponed till the next night. We were sent home to sit in front of our televisions and mourn our fallen leader. We were told to come back at 3:00 p.m.  the next day to repeat the game plan review.” Glenn Johnson remembers that Friday: “I was sitting in Mrs. Scott’s class when we got word of President Kennedy’s assassination. Just before the bell everybody was roaming the hall wanting to know what happened. My next class was Miss Dashielle’s English class. After she got everyone settled down, she went to the office and came back to confirm the news. We were so ready to play on such a beautiful day, but we understood the decision to postpone the game until Saturday night. We had so many mixed emotions. It would have been understandable  if everything was cancelled and moved out a week. Our concern was that, if we had to keep waiting, we could lose the ‘edge’ that Coach Ramsey and his staff had worked all week to build up. Then Saturday turned out to be a bad weather night, cooler, but like the first game with Westminster—rainy and sloppy. My fears were unfounded as we jumped on those Wildcats like a duck on a June bug. When the game finished, we knew which team should be ranked No. 1.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964
Steve Mills- AHS 1965

DEVILS SETTLE A DEBT, RAP WESTMINSTER, 28-0
Cooper, Asamoto, Mills Lead Avondale’s Explosive Attack
The Atlanta Journal, November 24, 1963, by Terry Kay--  You take a process of elimination, subtracting what was—or what was supposed to happen—and the sum of the matter equals out Avondale High School being No. 1 among the state’s Class AAA football powers. Such was accomplished  Saturday night at Avondale Stadium as the Blue Devils of Coach Calvin Ramsey proudly defended their home field by defeating Westminster High, 28-0, before more than 9,000 fans. The victory won Avondale of 4-AAA the right to meet North Fulton of 3-AAA for the North Georgia Championship Friday at Grady Stadium. Until Saturday night, the rating boards of Georgia high school football had Westminster coasting comfortably in the No. 1 spot while Avondale sat restlessly in the No. 2 rumble seat. The two teams had met once during the season with Westminster winning , 7-0.

It was difficult to say whether Avondale defensed or offensed Westminster to death. The Blue Devils, under the pure determination of running backs David Cooper, Lanny Asamoto and Steve Mills, rushed for 279 yards. But the defense held Charlie Brake’s Wildcats to only 78 rushing yards and 27 yards in the air. Westminster took the opening kickoff and moved eastward for nine yards before fourth down caught up with them. Tommy Chapman punted out and this began a series of booting back and forth. The ball had been handled by each team four times before Avondale started in from  the Wildcat’s 45. Cooper put 16 yards on the attack in two dashes, a nine-yard penalty moved things in closer and from the 13, Asamoto took a reverse and scooted over. Glenn Johnson, whose toe works like automation, kicked the PAT. The confetti flew. The statisticians, called in for a close check on a possible penetration game, relaxed a little and Avondale assumed complete command. The Blue Devils wasted little time after the half-time intermission. Asamoto took advantage of Cooper’s slashing running and went from 19 yards away with Wildcats hanging all over him. Enter Mr. Johnson-- score, 14-0. In the fourth quarter Cooper finally found the satisfaction of scoring, diving through from two yards out. After a punt exchange, Cooper cut loose for what must be one of the most fantastic runs of high school history. He took the punt on his own 37, went to the right, straight, backward, sideways—all the time bumping off of his opponents and cohorts—and finally  wound up sitting in the Wildcat end zone. The only problem—there was a penalty. Steve Mills got the last score late in the fourth from three yards out and Avondale moved one step closer to a dream—the state Class AAA crown.
Avondale (28)                         Westminster (0)
19                                            First Downs                             5
279                                          Yards Rushing                        78
12                                            Yards Passing                         27
1-5                                           Passes                                    2-6
0                                              Passes Intercepted by            1 
4-38                                         Punts                                       4-41
0                                              Fumbles lost                            1    
52                                            Yards Penalized                      40
Both Asamoto and Cooper averaged five yards a try. Asamoto had 57 yards on 11 carries and Cooper accounted for 74 yards on 14 attempts. The Avondale defense, except for rare occasions, stopped the dangerous options of Westminster’s Chapman and bottled  up hard charging fullback Earl Seagraves. “Our defense played  its best game of the season, “ Coach Ramsey said. “They stopped Westminster when we needed to stop them, and our running backs did an excellent job gaining ground.”
Score by Quarters:
Avondale           0         7         7        14 -- 28
Westminster      0         0         0        0   --  0
Avondale Scoring: TDs--  Lanny Asamoto, 13-yard run; Lanny Asamoto, 19-yard run; David Cooper, 2-yard run; Steve Mills, 3-yard run;  PATs—Glenn Johnson, 4 kicks

Mighty Avondale Wades Over Cats, Nears Title
The DeKalb New Era, November 29, 1963, by Chris Hunter—Mighty Avondale took a giant step toward the state crown last Saturday by downing  the Westminster Wildcats 28-0 before 9,000 clamoring fans at “Death Valley”, the Avondale Stadium. Westminster took the opening kickoff and slipped and squished for nine muddy yards and then booted. So many punts were exchanged at the start, it resembled a tennis match until Blue Devil Lanny Asamoto got his hands on the ball. In the second quarter, David Cooper touched off a scoring drive with 16 yards on two carries from the Wildcat’s 45. A Wildcat penalty helped  and Asamoto scurried in from the 13. Glenn Johnson tapped the PAT and the game was over for Westminster. Lanny’s first run featured a ‘splook, splook, splook’ sound all the way to the end zone, as he lifted his cleats  out of the mud. From that point on, if there was any way to still the cheers, the band, the quarterback signals, the coaches orders, one could have listened to the patter of Devil feet all night long. They ‘splooked’ for 279 yards for the night. Even more important, the Devil defenses held the Cats to only 78 yards of muddy turf and 27 more for passes. The game was Avondale’s all the way, and so is the state crown for that matter. After the half, Cooper and another formidable back named Steve Mills  came running back onto the field and kept on doing so. Somebody shoved the pigskin into Lanny’s hands on the 19-yard line and the Cats were trailing by 14 points. David Cooper did the honors on a fourth quarter drive with a two-yard plunge. Moments later he tried what must have been an 80 yard run resembling a drunken crow, but the referee nullified the touchdown. Fullback Mills carried through from the three late in the game, adding insult to injury, bruise to bruise, and six points to the 21 points already on the scoreboard. Glenn Johnson  made the score 28-0 with his tenth consecutive PAT in two games. North Fulton will host Avondale on Friday night at Grady Stadium for the North Georgia AAA  championship.

A DEFENSIVE GEM “COSTS” THE WILDCATS
The Atlanta Constitution, November 24, 1963, by Ray Tapley—The game was over and Coach Calvin Ramsey had been released from the shoulders of his jubilant players. Finally, he was able to extricate himself from well-wishers to field some questions. After soundly defeating Westminster, 28-0, the question of the hour was:  “What did your Blue Devils do this time in defeating  Westminster so decisively that they didn’t do in the first meeting  when the Wildcats won, 7-0?”  The answer Ramsey gave was, “We played a heck of a defensive game, that’s what.”  Those who had witnessed the game reached the same conclusion. He continued, “The boys blocked better than before and played what I would have to call the very best defensive game of the year.” Because of the teamwork involved on defense, Ramsey was reluctant to single out individuals. But he relented when the matter of offense was brought up. “Steve Mills, David Cooper and Lanny Asamoto all played great games,” he said. Charlie Brake, coach of the previously unbeaten and the top-ranked  Wildcats, was gracious in defeat: “I hope you go all the way” he told Ramsey as they shook hands. Brake later gave his assessment of the factors which led to his team’s first loss of the season. “Losing Taylor Branch to an injury in the second quarter hurt us, but it didn’t hurt that much. They were ready to play and I don’t think we were. Our defense just couldn’t stop them. But if we had to lose to someone, I’m glad it’s Calvin. He has done a great job with his team this year.”

A Special Tribute
Wade Wilkes remembers November 22nd and 23rd, 1963: “The second time we played Westminster, the game was delayed after President Kennedy was killed.”  When the game was played, Stephanie Strand Blomeyer remembers the solemn, respectful taps of the drums on a rainy night where tears seemed to fall from heaven: “A performance I remember that really touched my heart, then and still does today, is when our President Kennedy was assassinated. I don't remember all of the details but, what I do remember was a cold and drizzly night as our Band, Majorettes, Avonettes marched onto the field before the kickoff to what I remember as the sound of drumsticks clicking on the rims of drums. All of those folks were marching silently to the cadence of the drums into some formation where we saluted then put our hands over our hearts. The Band played something-- probably the Star Spangled Banner-- then we marched silently off the field. When I shared this emotional memory with my husband Earle, I cried once again as I did through that trip onto and off the field,  but Earle cheered me up by telling me of HIS contributions to the Avondale ‘cause’. He d been a member of the Lions Club and they were the gentlemen that sold the programs at each of the games . . . they were a big part of the Boosters! The interesting thing to me about Earle selling football programs prior to every game is that he had no children . . . just a member of a service club that was serving the Community . . . of Avondale!” While some memories of the night escaped Stephanie, there are some that remained with her: “What I DO remember was it was a really cold and drizzly night . . . I got really sick and spent Sunday morning in bed watching TV. . . . so I was watching when Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald-- a terrible memory.”

A Message Was Sent on the First Play
According to Mike Colvard the tone of the game was set on the first play:  “The first time Earl Seagraves touched the ball on the first play of the game, George Veal met him helmet to helmet and stood him straight up. Seagraves found himself lying flat on his back in his own backfield, and had trouble making it back to the huddle. I could feel the wind go out of their entire team with that hit and we were pumped. The message was clear. This is not the same team you played several months ago and you boys are in for a long night. Taylor Branch left with a broken arm, Chapman was also helped off the field sometime after that.” Steve continues to describe the punishment: “But that first hit on Seagraves, I believe, marked the very moment that we turned into a pretty good high school football team.” George Veal points out another turning point in the game : “Our second game with Westminster started off like the first one . They had beaten us 7-0 in the regular season with a huge fullback named Earl Seagraves. Earl ran all over us in the first game. Since I was embarrassed in the first game by their offense and Earl Seagraves, this was my chance for redemption. However, I had an equally daunting task on offense as their star linebacker Taylor Branch was outstanding. The playoff game started as a slugfest. After several, three-downs-and-out, I thought this is going to be a long night. Then it happened! Their star linebacker, Taylor Branch, got hurt in the first quarter and was out for the rest of the game—his replacement wasn’t nearly as tough. Our defense took revenge on Mr. Seagraves. Then David Cooper and company took advantage of their defense minus Taylor Branch. Our 28-0 victory was very sweet.” Glenn Johnson shares an impression that has stuck with him about Earl Seagraves in this game: “After George and Stanley hit Seagraves a few times, he started turning as he received the ball from Chapman, their QB. He was going into the line sideways—he did not want to get hit straight up by George, Stanley, Bob Bowen (a monster nose guard), or any of the other defensive linemen. When I saw Seagraves turning to absorb the hit that he was about to receive, I thought, ‘We got em !’ They simply could not move the ball against us. Like George said, this was the most satisfying win, since we made good on our promise that ‘WE’LL BE BACK’ that Cooper wrote on the chalkboard in the visitors dressing room after the first game.” Wade Wilkes remembers a great defense: “Frank Owens and I sacked Mr. Chapman four times in the first half--  revenge was sweet. When I went back and looked at the record of our last six games-- the last three regular season and the three playoff games-- only one team, Decatur, even scored on us. We scored 214 points and only gave up 14 points in our last six games--  amazing!” 

Their Defensive Leaks Became a Raging River
The reportedly “injured” Steve Mills recounts the game: “After we reassembled at 3:00 on Saturday, repeated our pregame classroom review and headed to Davis Brothers for our pregame meal, we returned to the stadium to await our visitors. I tested my knee in warm-ups and felt that I could play at full speed. The beginning of the game was the defensive struggle that mirrored the first game, except that our defense was much better than in the first game. We tried the unbalanced line formation, which had been so successful against Decatur, but Westminster had seen it on film and made the proper defensive adjustments and were able to stop us. There were no cracks in our defensive wall for their offense to leak through. Our offense found a small crack here and there, but could not sustain anything. Then it happened-- Taylor Branch, their all-star linebacker and the best defensive player I ever faced, left the game,  not to return due to an injured shoulder. Suddenly the small leaks in their defense became a steady trickle. then a babbling brook and finally a raging river with class 5 rapids. We finally put together a drive with Lanny and David racing through the holes our line was opening. We led at the half, 7-0. I think they were discouraged that their offense, which was run-orientated, could not make any progress. We continued to pound them in the 3rd quarter, opening the lead to 14-0. Lanny and Cooper continued to lead the charge, and our defense was just plain dominating. In the 4th quarter our offensive  line was blowing their exhausted defense off the ball. I think we got the ball about our 20 when the ball was handed off to me twice in a row and I gained about 20 yards to the 40. Then the ball was handed to me again, and I made it downfield 10-12 yards with no one around me. As I planted my left foot, my left calf cramped and I stumbled. As I planted my right foot to try to regain my balance,  my right calf cramped and I fell flat on my face. I could not get up and literally rolled off the field. My replacement, Wade Wilkes, took up right where I left off and continued to pound the ball forward. Meanwhile, the trainers on the sideline were massaging my calfs,  rubbing away the cramps. I think we were at about the 10 by the time the cramps went away, and they sent me back in. I was able to score the final TD, but I really felt bad for Wade as he had done much of the heavy lifting, getting the ball toward the goal. He should have been given the chance to get the TD.”

The Flash Cards
Steve Mills reveals an observation the coaches made that paid off: “Westminster ran what we call a multiple offense, that is, they ran plays out of many different formations. Our coaches discerned, from watching film, that they only ran one or two plays from each formation-- so if you could identify the formation,  you had a pretty good idea of the play they were going to run. While our defense held them scoreless in the first game, (they scored on a kickoff return) they gashed us pretty good at times keeping the ball away from us. So if we could figure out the formations, we stood a better chance of stopping them.”  George Veal tells the story of the flash cards used during his week of preparation: “ The coaches diagrammed each Westminster formation on a flash card. They would hold one card up then I would call out the likely play and say what defense we wanted to call. There must have been about 30 cards. The coaches would pull me out of study halls and even classes to drill me over and over again. I would stay after practice and drill some more. By game time I knew these formations and the defenses to call backwards and forwards. As I recognized formations and barked defensive signals, there were no creases left inside for Buzz Wisdom or Earl Seagraves to run. When Tommy Chapman tried to get outside, Steve Allen, Brad Johnson or Andy Odom turned him back inside where he was mauled by our pursuing inside players. I think we held them to 5 first downs for the whole game.” Glenn Johnson almost had his PATs blocked just as they had been in the Decatur game a week earlier: “My kicks almost got blocked again in the Westminster game. Fortunately, as the newspaper noted, I was ten for ten in those two playoff games.” As Glenn explains, there was another important aspect to his kicks: “I had the best night of kicking that I had for the whole year. While I had a good run on PATs, I was pretty good at kicking off into the end zone. Back then, the high school rule was that you couldn’t run a kickoff out of the end zone. Coach Ramsey was tickled every time my kick made it to the end zone, especially after that costly TD return made by Chapman in the first Westminster game. On one of the kickoffs in this game, it went to the back of the end zone. But hold on! The referee said that I had kicked off from the 45-yard line instead of the 40. It was so wet and muddy that the yard lines were obliterated. We lined up and kicked it again and it went halfway through the end zone, so both kicks went the same distance. Those were the best kicks I ever made. After the second, while running off the field I looked at the referee and said, ‘Satisfied now?’ He just laughed and said, ‘Good kick’.”  At the end of the game, Glenn observed a “class act”:  “Coach Charlie Brake showed a lot of class after the game. When asked about the affect of Taylor Branch’s injury on the outcome of the game, he said,  ‘It hurt, but it didn’t matter because Avondale was not going to be denied tonight’.”

“Tank” the Scout
Coach Hugh “Tank” Tankersly did such an outstanding job of scouting that Glenn sings his praises: “Coach Tank did a great job of scouting our upcoming opponent every week. There was none better. His reports were so detailed and precise that we knew so much about our opponent that they rarely surprised us. He spent all of the playoff practices with us since his 8th grade coaching duties  for the season had ended. Moving ahead to the season’s end, we attended a dinner honoring both teams, which was hosted by the AHS TD Club after the championship game when a Moultrie player came up to me and said, ‘Yall seemed to know every move we were going to do.’ After I told him about Coach Tank’s scouting reports, I responded: “We knew everything about you, including who you dated on Friday night.’ We all had a good laugh about that, but none of our success would have been possible without the fine scouting reports we got from Coach Tank. Coach Ramsey was years ahead of other coaches in this regard and with other innovations, and Coach Tank was a big part of it.” George agrees with Glenn: “The coaches did the best job of scouting that I ever saw in my nine years of football. When they were on offense, we knew exactly what they were going to do and how to stop it.”

The Faker
David Cooper demonstrated Coach Ramsey’s wisdom where he could help the team even when he didn’t lug the football: “Westminster paid the price for trying to key on me as they did in the first game. The new plays that Coach Ramsey had  put in during the weeks since that game worked perfectly.”  Lanny provides details of an important play in the Devil’s game plan: “I remember that the Westminster defense followed David all night long. Wherever David went, the defense followed him, so we would run a trap play in the opposite direction to open a hole for my run. David would go in motion to the right, Steve would get a fake handoff into the right side of the line and block the right tackle.” Steve breaks down the elements of the play:  “The key blocks at the point of attack were David Bently (left tackle) blocking the linebacker and Ed Spencer (right tackle) trapping the left defensive tackle. Lanny would run through the opening between them  while Bruce Mather (center) and Bill Johnson(left guard) would double team the nose guard. George Veal (right guard) would block the onside line backer. Our tight end, either John Mangrum or Steve Allen would kick out the end. I would stymie the defensive tackle from the spot Spencer vacated. Finally, many of the long runs Lanny made on the play were due to Eddie Sanders our split end getting downfield to block a safety.” Glenn says that Lanny had a bigger role than usual against Westminster, since Cooper was so convincing playing the role as the ‘faker’. Lanny carried the ball 11 times in this game,  whereas he usually had 3-5 carries for about 75 yards.”

Two Amazing Plays
Now you will read about two amazing, back-to-back plays by David Cooper—first on defense, then followed on offense. David begins the story here: “During the lunch for my signing with Georgia, Coach ‘Erk’ Russell told me about one thing that happened during the game that I did not know about. He said that Chapman had said he was glad not to be meeting me on the football field anymore. When he saw that I did not understand, he explained that when I hit Chapman on their sideline during the playoff game that it put him out of the game. I knew that we had a pretty violent head to head meeting when I tackled him as he tried to make one of his broken-play runs.” Glenn describes the  “big hit”: “ Cooper hit Chapman in the midsection and bent him double to the extent that all you could see was David’s lower calves. He almost cut Chapman in half. It was that kind of hit.” David picks up the story after Chapman left the field: “ I was a little dazed, but knew that I had to get  back in position for catching the punt because it was 4th down. Chapman’s backup punter forgot to kick the ball away from me. I knew that Chapman had been kicking the ball away from me the whole game, but I did not know until then why they punted to me on that play where I ran about 60 yards for a TD that was nullified by a penalty.” Glenn describes the greatest run he ever saw: “Cooper made a punt return unlike any I had seen before or since. The only difference between this run and the run Andy made earlier in the season was that this one didn’t count. It was called back because of a clipping penalty away from the path of his run. In the fourth quarter David gathered in the punt, avoided several would-be tacklers and finally worked his way to the sideline. He was headed for a score when a Westminster player jumped on his back. When he realized that David was strong enough to not collapse under his weight, the player began to slide down David’s back so as to grab David’s legs to bring him down. Realizing this, David reached back with his free hand, grabbed the tackler by the shoulder pads to prevent him from sliding down, and carried the tackler the last 10 yards into the end zone.” Even though David was not credited with a score,  sportswriter Terry Kay described the run as being the “one of the most fantastic runs of high school history”. Considering that David had been dazed by his crushing tackle on Chapman just before the punt return, the dazzling physical feat on display in  his “TD” run is even more remarkable.
Gerry Lingle— AHS 1960                   Steve Mills--  AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON— AHS 1964      George Veal--  AHS 1964
David Cooper— AHS 1964                Stephanie Strand Blomeyer--  AHS 1964
Lanny Asamoto--  AHS 1964

Avondale, N. Fulton Coaches Say Teams Must Rise Again
The Atlanta Constitution, November 29, 1963, by Charlie Roberts--  Either the Avondale or the North Fulton balloon will burst Friday night at Grady Stadium unless football coaches can inflate them enough  to rise to the occasion again.  Avondale Coach Calvin Ramsey wondered, “We were sky high for the Westminster game last week, and I’m just wondering if we can get our players up again. It will take our best game to win.”  North Fulton Coach Calvin Hartness had a similar thought, “We were up mighty high when we beat Brown, 29-24, because they call it the Milk Bowl and because Brown beat us in the regular season. I hope we can  get the boys high enough to make it tough on Avondale. We can make it tough or win with the kind of game we played  in the first half  at Grant Field, but we can be run off the field by playing the way we did in the second half. We weren’t the same club after taking a 14-0 lead at the half.” Ramsey said in rebuttal, “I don’t know how we keep winning when I look at films of our victory over Westminster. We did some things mighty poorly in some spots in the first half.” Ramsey doesn’t profess to having any stars at all except for David Cooper, whom he calls “best running back Avondale ever had.” But Hartness opines, “Avondale has a tremendous football team. Give me his backfield—that Cooper, Asamoto, Mills and those two quarterbacks (Colvard and Myers)—and the depth behind them and I could feel pretty good about my team. Avondale isn’t particularly big, but our scouts tell me the line of scrimmage is mighty quick.” Ramsey’s evaluation of North Fulton went like this,” Our scouts say they have some real horses in that McDowell (quarterback), linebacker Bobby Hultman, halfback Terry (who caught three McDowell passes for 103 yards and two TDs against Brown), and end Tim Woodall. Out of North Fulton’s 36 interceptions, he has picked off 15 of them.” Hartness opined, "Honestly, we’re not a team of stars, but we have had different players  rise to the occasion and play major roles in different games. We expect Woodall, McDowell and  end Ricky Decker to do consistently good jobs, and they do. They are top athletes. But otherwise it’s been like this: Hultman played a top game and won the Brown game for us. Ends John Merritt and John Hayes were particularly outstanding in the line. Avondale can become the first Region 4-AAA school to win a state AAA grid title. Avondale, a 14-point favorite on a dry field and a six-point favorite in mud, owns one of the most colorful running backs of recent seasons in David Cooper. He has barreled for 1,000 yards plus and is a shoo-in for all-state honors. Cooper is joined in the backfield with fleet Lanny Asamoto, junior fullback Steve Mills and “twin” quarterbacks Mike Colvard and Ray Myers. Steve Allen, fleetest back, is the most dangerous pass receiver. Center Stanley Anderson, George Veal and Frank Owens spearhead  a gang-tackling defense that is the equal of any in north Georgia.

Atlanta vs. Avondale—Not Much of a Match
Steve Mills has an answer to the question posed by Charlie Roberts in the above article regarding the Blue Devil’s readiness to play: “Coach Ramsey was asked if he could get us up again for North Fulton after two consecutive ‘big games’. The answer was really ‘no’. We had two very competitive, emotional wins both in payback to the two teams that had beaten us, either earlier in the year, or the previous year. In 1963, city league public school football was really no match with the teams from the suburbs. This North Fulton team had lost to Brown early in the year but, to their credit, they came back and defeated Brown for the city championship by a touchdown. We had thrashed the same Brown team, 35-6, in our opening game back in September......way before we got our act together and started playing champion-caliber football. The fact that they had 36 interceptions did not phase us, as we did not throw that much. One defender, the newspaper articles failed to mention, was their fireplug nose guard, 5'6" 220-pound ‘Little Daddy’ Wheeler. He was another challenge for Bruce.” David Cooper makes similar observations about North Fulton: “Even with all of the hype about North Fulton by our coaches, this game felt like it would involve the least impressive team we would face in the playoffs. We opened the season with Brown and had beaten them easily. Brown had defeated North Fulton, 18-13, during the regular season but lost to them by 29-24 in the playoffs. This meant that we would have to have a big let up for them to play with us. We practiced to keep fine tuning the offense and defense. We knew that they would be keying their defense to stop our power game. The game plan was to run the power play enough to keep them keying on the power play and then to come back with the trap and counter plays. We also worked on the quarterback rollout toward the back in motion and the bootleg away from the motion.”

Can N. Fulton Possibly Win?
The Atlanta Journal, November 29, 1963, by Tom McCollister—It is a likely conclusion that Avondale will be favored to defeat North Fulton for the North Georgia AAA Championship on Friday at Grady Stadium. Yes, Avondale is the favorite and likely winner, but the Blue Devils have a history of not being able to win the big one. In 1959, Avondale fell to Gainesville, 13-12, in a battle for the Region 4-AA crown, with Billy Lothridge throwing and an injured Billy Martin catching. Avondale rose to Class AAA in 1960 and won the region and north Georgia titles, but fell 20-14 before Valdosta in the championship game. In 1961, R.E. Lee was the team in Region 4-AAA, beating Avondale in the regular season then proceeding to win the north Georgia title. In 1962 came the biggest insult to Avondale’s playoff pride. Neighborhood rival Decatur, a team which Avondale had beaten in regular season, upset the Devils on their own field, 7-6, to win Region 4-AAA. People said Avondale choked on that one. The Blue Devils won handily this year and then won the playoff with No. 1 Westminster. North Fulton is the rags to riches team that did what it wasn’t supposed to do—win without Bubba Wyche. But Calvin Hartness reorganized his troops, and behind Bobby McDowell, Terry Hultman, and Mike Bush, the Bulldogs won until it captured the city championship. Winning may be a bit more difficult this time, however, for the Bulldogs haven’t faced the likes of David Cooper, Lanny Asamoto and Steve Mills. If passing is needed, Ray Myers can do it, and Mike Colvard can run it. The winner of this one meets the South Georgia champion—either Glynn Academy or Moultrie. Glynn uses the passing of Tash Van Dora and the catching of Nick Mavromat to demoralize its foes. Moultrie runs at you with halfbacks Joe Linder, Tom Beard and quarterbacks Doug Hall and Andy Cummings.

RAMSEY COACH OF THE YEAR
The Atlanta Journal, December 1, 1963, by Tom McCollister—Coach Calvin Ramsey, whose Avondale Blue Devils in five years have lost only two regular season games, is named Coach of the Year. Avondale players recognized by the 1963 Journal and Constitution All-State team are:
1st Team-- David Cooper, back. Honorable Mention—Stan Anderson, center; George Veal, guard.

GREATER ATLANTA ALL-STARS
Cooper, Ivey Lead the Team
The Atlanta Journal, November 27, 1963, by Terry Kay—Avondale’s David Cooper, one of the most brilliant runners ever to spawn in Georgia, is the Back of the Year, Decatur’s Bob Ivey is the year’s top lineman. Cooper, who stands 5-9 and weighs 155 pounds, scored 11 touchdowns for Coach Calvin Ramsey’s Avondale Blue Devils. He rushed for an 8.8 yards per carry and almost 1,000 yards, though being used as a decoy most of the time. Capturing Coach of the Year for Greater Atlanta is Avondale’s Calvin Ramsey, who took a team with only one returning regular and won 4-AAA and defeated 5-AAA champ Westminster, the No. 1 team at the time. Ramsey’s squad meets North Fulton Friday night for the North Georgia championship. Stanley Anderson joins Cooper on the 1st Team at Center. Honorable Mention—Steve Allen, End; James Sharpe, Tackle; George Veal, Guard; Lanny Asamoto, Back; Steve Mills, Back

Blue Devil Mentor Ramsey Named AAA All-Stat Coach
The DeKalb New Era, December 2, 1983, by Bettyann Lingle—Football fans in Avondale have been saying it for a long time. Now, at last, it is official – Coach Calvin Ramsey was at last picked as “Coach of the Year” for the Greater Atlanta AAA classification. Recently he was named “Coach of the Year” for the Class AAA All-State team. Blue Devil followers do not have to be reminded of what a remarkable job Ramsey has done since coming to Avondale. Each year, faced with only a handful of returning varsity players, he has groomed teams that have always been in contention for various titles. This year, Coach Ramsey and the Imps are knocking on the door of a state championship. Not to be outdone, David Cooper has been named “Back of the Year” for the Greater Atlanta All-Star team, with Honorable Mention going to Stanley Anderson, center; and George Veal, guard. Lanny Asamoto was named “Co-Back of the Week” for the Prep Honor Roll for his outstanding play in the North Georgia championship game against North Fulton. Asamoto, who has lived in the shadow of David Cooper most of the season, was the running star in Avondale’s 34-0 victory. He scored on 51 and 40-yard runs and gained 114 yards in six carries.

Our Blue Devils Were Under Represented on the All-Star Teams
When you consider that the All-Star teams were announced in late November, after Avondale had advanced to the North Georgia AAA championship game, you would have expected more of our players to be recognized. Also, many of our players had played against many of these All-Stars and had acquitted themselves with sound performances. David Cooper weighs in on this subject: “A lot of our good players were overlooked. By this point in the year, our team had improved so much, that our players could have been listed as All State at every position. Teams were having trouble finding any weakness in our offense or our defense. All of our players were as good or better than any of the players being honored at their positions. We had players, not starting, that were better than many of the players being honored. I know that it sounds like I am exaggerating, but the fact that we only had two players on the all state team in '63 but the ’64 team had nine players honored as All-State players. These honors are given more to seniors and an effort is made to spread the honors to as many teams as possible. I do not think, outside of our team members and fans, that people realized how talented the team had become. That includes players who hardly played, because their improvement pushed the players who started ahead of them to keep improving or lose their position. That is what makes a championship team.”

Breaking the Tension
Glenn Johnson has a story about Stanley Anderson and a moment when Coach Ramsey uncharacteristically laughed on a practice field: “We were practicing on the baseball infield because the grass in the outfield used as a practice area had been worn down. In this particular practice, Stanley called out a defensive stunt—‘lucky’ for left—but he didn’t call out the stunt loud enough, so Coach Meyer blew his whistle, killing the play before the ball was snapped. Some player’s dads were in the stadium watching practice, as Coach Meyer ran over to Stanley and hollered, ‘Stanley, on Friday night, the crowd is going to be hollering, the band is going to be playing, the cheerleaders are going to be cheering, and nobody’s going to hear you call out the stunt. Now I want you to call out the stunt loud enough so those men in the stadium can hear you.’ Well Stanley turns around, faced the stadium, cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered at the top of his voice, ‘LUCKY!!!!’ Then he casually turned back around and assumed his stance like nothing had happened. Then Coach Ramsey ran over behind the offensive huddle and the extra players, where he pulled his hat down over his face and started laughing. When he looked up, our eyes met and he shook his head as if to say, ’Don’t let anybody know you saw me laughing on the practice field.’ It was one of those magic moments that broke through the tension and seriousness of preparing for a playoff game when we all loosened up.”

The Guys in the “Trenches”                                           

David Bentley shines the spot light on the indispensable guys that labored in the shadows: “So much is written about the great running backs, fullbacks and quarterbacks that we had back then, and sure they were the ones scoring all the points (along with Scottdale’s automatic toe, there would be hell to pay if I didn't mention GLENN), but I remember the grunts in the trenches that made it possible for our star athletes to show off their skills. Lineman such as Bill Johnson, Bruce Mather, Edwin Spencer, Harold Bright, John Mangram and Jim Sharpe created the openings that allowed our star athletes to ply their trade. On the defensive side of the ball, you’ve heard about Stanley Anderson, George Veal and Frank Owens, but moving Gene Webb out of a running lane was almost impossible. Then there is Eddie Sanders, who’s chin was split open in the first game before they finally quit trying to sew it up until after the season was over because Eddie always led with his head and split it open again every week. And don't forget Paul Brinsfield and the great job that he did week-in and week-out. Football is the ultimate team sport, and what we had was a real, model team. We were from diverse backgrounds-- the Methodist Children's Home, the Scottdale mill village, out in the country where I lived, the various subdivisions that surrounded our drawing area, and from Avondale -- but we all melded into one of the best high school football programs ever in Georgia. What we learned from that experience has served us all well for the last 50 years.”

David, as a running back, has a unique perspective on the roll of lineman: “When I started playing football at Wilson Junior High School in Charlotte, NC ., I played guard. Being fairly small, an older boy was harassing me about being too small to play football. I found out that he played guard, so I went out for guard and became the starting guard on offense and defense. In the ninth grade, our fullback was injured, so I became a fullback on offense and a guard on defense. After I came to Avondale, at the first practice Coach Ramsey pulled me to the side and asked me who told me I was a guard or a fullback. I was afraid he was going to tell me not to come back. Instead, he said that I was a natural running back, and that I needed to take off those high top cleats and get some low cuts that are better for running backs. All ballplayers know that most of the action takes place at the line of scrimmage. The big runs and passes are only a small percentage of plays, and do not always win ballgames. The majority of plays have the line block to open a space or hole where the ball carrier can try to run through. When successful, the ball has to cover at least 10 yards every three plays. Without the basic work done by the lineman and other backs, no runner or passer would be successful. Every offensive play is made attempts to score, and every defense is designed to hold the other team at or behind the line. Only when you have all eleven players working together can a team be successful. An offense that is superior will move the ball and score. A superior defense will keep the other team from moving the ball toward their goal. This means that a team will only be as successful as their weakest players. The better coaches will find the weakest points of the other team and exploit them. I do not think we had any real weaknesses, We had good players at every position.”

An Instructional Moment
Glenn takes us back to a practice: “Coach was good at talking to someone without anyone else knowing about it, but when he was mad he let everybody know. There was a play when I was playing defense for the scout team. Steve Mills was handed the ball on a dive play up the middle. I met and tackled him, but I was the loser on the collision. Coach Ramsey ran over to Mills and said, ‘You need to get low so you can drive through the tackle.’ Steve walked on back to the huddle when Coach Ramsey looked down at me, still lying on the ground and feeling like every bone in my body was broken. Coach said, ‘Don’t let Steve know that he hurt you, Scottdale. It will tear down what I’m trying to teach him.’ Those were the kind of exchanges that no one else knew about unless they were the ones being addressed.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960 George Veal—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSOM—AHS 1964 Steve Mills—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964

Mills, Asamoto Propel Avondale to Title, 34-0
8,000 Watch North Fulton Fall
The Atlanta Constitution, November 30, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Avondale High’s Blue Devils, old-fashioned football folks who believe in travelling by land in the air age, conquered acres of space and the North Fulton Bulldogs, 34-0, while capturing the North Georgia AAA crown Friday night. A bundled, blanketed, shivering crowd of 8,000 at Grady Stadium saw Calvin Ramsey’s hoggish “Black-Eyed Peas” settle the hash of the Buckhead Bulldogs with a slicing ground scythe that slashed for at least one touchdown in every quarter. The victory catapulted the suburban Imps into a state championship hassle with Molutrie, 20-0 winner over Glynn Academy for the South Georgia title, at 7:30 next Friday night in Avondale’s own “Death Valley”.

So relentless were the Avondale ground forces, led by bullish Steve Mills—who barreled 90 yards on 24 carries—and swivel-hipped Lanny Asamoto—who fled for 115 yards on just six lugs—that the Devils ran off 60 running plays to a mere 17 for Calvin Hartness’ City League kings. Ray Myers completed two of three passes the Imps attempted to David Cooper for 16 yards, while Buckheader Bobby McDowell made connections on only two of 13 passes for 14 yards and watched George Veal and Mike Colvard intercept two of those. Halfback Brad Johnson and “nose man” Bob Bowen stamped “Avondale” on two North Fulton fumbles, and linebacker Stanley Anderson made seven individual tackles as the Devils handed the Bulldogs the most lop-sided licking in the 17-year history of the North Georgia playoffs. The Devils, who ran their seven-year won-lost-tied record under Ramsey to 71-6-2, gave indication of things to come when they thrashed 52 yards on 12 totes for a touchdown the first time they possessed the football. Mills, workhorse junior fullback who had been chiefly touted for his blocking, punished the Bulldog middle for 24 yards on seven charges, and Cooper sliced off tackle for the last eight yards. Glenn Johnson, who was to run up his extra-point kicking chart to 41 of 44 for the year by kicking four of five this night, kicked true for a 7-0 lead. The issue, however, was in doubt until Asamoto—carrying the ball for the first time—burst through left tackle for 51 yards, the second touchdown and a 13-0 pad with only two seconds left in the first half. Tim Woodall (11 tackles), Billy Attridge (9), John Merritt (8), McDowell (7), John Hayes (4), and Gary Gavant (4) seemed to have found the strength to bulwark the defensive fortress until that startling happening. But thereafter there was no doubt that Avondale, 1960 finalist in the AAA playoffs and 1958 co-champion with Thomasville, was on the move to another North Georgia crown.
Avondale (34)                                   North Fulton (0)
16                     First Downs              5
324                 Yards Rushing           54
16                   Yards Passing           14
90                  Yards Penalized          21
Quarterback Colvard, who peeled off for 59 yards on 13 keepers during the night; Cooper, who smashed away for 49 yards on 13 carriers; Andy Odom, Asamoto and Mills tramped for 59 yards and scored 12 plays after the third quarter kickoff. That 20-0 bulge, which came on a three-yard slash by Mills and Johnson’s true boot, ballooned to 27-0 with 3:30 left in the final chapter. Brad Johnson hit paydirt from five yards away on the 11th play of a 56-yard push. Mills stomped 30 yards on five snaps, Colvard 12 yards on three along the payoff route. The kickoff and one play later, Bowen coiled around a Bulldog bobble 19 yards away and Cooper scooted for four yards, ran a Myers pass into a 14-yarder and smashed the middle for his second touchdown. Johnson, given a reprieve on a wide kick because of a penalty, kicked the 34th point through on the second try with 1:49 remaining. Subs Russel Richards, and Grant Strauss eluded Avondale’s defensive net for eight and 29 yards on the last two runs of the game, 17 more ground yards tha the Bulldogs could gain in the first 47 of the game’s 48 seconds. Avondale, by writing off North Fulton, edited its season record to 11-1. The loss was the Bulldog’s third in 12 outings.
Score by Quarters:
Avondale          7  6  7 14 -- 34
North Fulton     0  0  0  0 -- 0
Avondale Scoring: TDs-- David Cooper, 8-yard run; Lanny Asamoto, 51-yard run; Steve Mills, 3-yard run; Brad Johnson, 5-yard run; David Cooper, 1-yard run; Glenn Johnson, 4 PAT kicks.

Surging Avondale Poises for Packers, State Crown
The DeKalb New Era, December 5, 1963, by Chris Hunter—After rolling like a tidal wave over North Fulton to claim the North Georgia AAA crown, mighty Avondale is poised to wrestle Moultrie for the state championship. North Fulton, which went down 34-0, didn’t have a ghost of a chance after making one mistake at the start of last Friday’s tussle in Grady Stadium—they let the Blue Devils get the ball . Avondale scored on a 52-yard drive, with Steve Mills gaining almost half of the ground with fullback charges up the middle. David Cooper tacked on the last eight yards and the first six points and Glenn Johnson booted the first of four pretty PATs, on what is recorded as the windiest night of the year. In the second quarter, Avondale jabbed to the fifteen and thirteen yard lines, where the Buckhead Bulldogs held. Late in the half Lanny Asamoto to his first handoff on his own 48 and went all the way to score 51 yards later with only two seconds left on the scoreboard. The Devils ran the second half kickoff back to their own 41 and then began a leisurely drive. Twelve snaps later Mills took the handoff on the three and went in for six and Johnson kicked to extend the lead to 20-0. In the fourth quarter Avondale started a drive on their own 44 and added another seven points in eleven plays. Wingback Brad Johnson scored the points for a 26-point lead on a five-yard jaunt. Johnson booted to boost the lead to 27-0. On the first play after the kickoff, the Bulldogs fumbled the ball, which Bob Bowen was happy to recover on the 19. Cooper carried to the 15, caught the second Devil pass of the evening from Ray Myers for 14 yards and next pushed over from the one for the score. Johnson booted and the team retired, holders of the North Georgia crown for the second time in four seasons. The average Avondale play netted and amazing 5.7 yards. Halfback Asamoto held the best Devil record of the night with a remarkable average of 19 yards for six carries, two of which were 51 and 40 yard jaunts. In other parts of the backfield, signal caller Mike Colvard averaged out to 4.5, scorer David Cooper finished 3.8, and Steve Mills, dubbed by Coach Ramsey as the most underrated fullback of the year, averaged 3.7. Mills carried on over a third of the Blue Devil plays and became rather a marked man towards the end of the game.

DEVILS PLAY GAME STRAIGHT FOR A FANCY 34-0 VICTORY
Last Half Fatal to Dogs
The Atlanta Journal, November 30, 1963, by Tom McCollister—A cold wind was whipping around Grady Stadium Friday night when North Fulton ran on to the field at 7:27 p.m. yelping with anticipationand two hours and 10 minutes later it was blowing even colder as they trudged slowly off the field, heads down , a badly beaten band of Bulldogs—their rags to riches season ended. In those two hours, Avondale completely demoralized North Fulton, something the Blue Devils have done to 10 other teams this season on their march the the North Georgia AAA championship. The final score was, 34-0, but it didn’t begin to tell the story of this night when 8,000 hearty souls braved the foulest of weather to see Calvin Ramsey coach and the Blue Devils run and defend. Most of the noise, for sure, came from the Avondale side. There was nothing fancy about the way they did it. The Devils played like a well-oiled machine, even though it needed a little overhauling at halftime after what Ramsey called a poor “performance”. Avondale simply took the football and ran on the legs of David Cooper, Lanny Asamoto, Mike Colvard and Steve Mills. Off tackle, up the middle around the end, it didn’t matter. Except for a couple of instances , the once fierce Bulldogs were reduced to mere pups. As for Mills, a junior, Ramsey commented, “He’s the most underrated fullback around.” Mills gained 90 hard-earned yards and scored a touchdown. Cooper scored two from eight yards out—the first—as a Bulldog piled on Mills in the middle. Cooper ran 12 times for 45 yards, but he was a marked man.

A Look at the Game from Ground Level
Steve Mills sums up the team’s expectations: “I don't think the coaches expected the North Fulton game to be close either. Without really telling us beforehand, they sort of "dummied down " the offense to just a few basic plays, so as not to reveal much of our plans to any south Georgia scouts who might be on hand or later review the film. The result was, instead of my usual 7-11 carries a game, I wound up with 24 carries-- just basic fullback dives up the middle. We simply had way more and better players than they did and were able to subdue North Fulton despite our being pretty flat for the game. We really were pretty flat offensively in the 1st half and their defense was probably better than we expected. I think the articles indicate they stopped us twice, deep in their territory in the 1st half. Very late in the second quarter, we clung to a slim, 7-0, margin which looked like it would be the halftime score. But then, just before the half ended, Lanny bolted 51 yards on the counter trap play for a 14-0 lead. It was a dagger to their hearts and slightly reduced the ‘Ramsey wrath’ we expected to face at halftime. Our defense was its usually stingy self. I do not think they ever threatened. The win came with a price—I am pretty sure it was in the game and not the following week at practice that our co-starting quarterback Mike Colvard went down with a pretty severe high ankle sprain. Soon it became apparent he would be unavailable for the state title game. In addition to his offensive role, Mike was an outstanding starting safety on defense.”

George VeaI describes “life” in the trenches: “Since this was a really cold night, I was glad that I was playing offense and defense, so that I could keep warm. This was an easy game for me. They didn't have anyone on offense or defense that gave me any particular problems. We ran the ball up the middle a lot with Steve Mills. After several successful runs up the middle, we countered with Lanny Asamoto. On a play I knocked one of their defenders on the ground, but when the kid looked up from off the ground, as Lanny went flying by, he said: ‘There goes that Asamoto play’. This was one of the few times that I actually intercepted a pass, when they were driving the ball and were in our territory. When I intercept the ball, I remember thinking that I was so glad to stop their drive. Unfortunately, I was so happy that I stumbled over my own two feet and fell to the ground. Now I remember why I was not a running back.”

A Missed Opportunity
Glenn has a painful memory: “I had been 10 for 10 on my PATs in the Decatur and Westminster, but against North Fulton it was so cold that I could never ‘feel’ the ball so I shanked a kick. My kickoffs were terrible, too. Coach told me to ‘squib kick’ the ball since it would not carry in the cold. Coach Bill Peterson of FSU was at the game and talked to me afterwards as I was walking off the field. I was devastated due to my atypical and disappointing performance. My best chance for a scholarship had slipped through my fingers (actually my toes) on a cold night at Grady Stadium.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960 Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964 George Veal—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964

Confounding the Experts
Charlie Roberts still had not discerned Avondale’s football prowess. He had picked Avondale as, “a 14-point favorite on a dry field and a six-point favorite on a muddy field.” WRONG AGAIN, as testified by Avondale’s 34-0 win over North Fulton—a 28-point differential on a muddy field. Read the predictions of pundits for the Moultrie game. Knowing the game’s outcome, you could say, “Why in the Charles Dickens did the writers not have ‘ great expectations’ for Avondale after so many dominating wins in the playoffs ?”

AVONDALE “DEFENDS” ATLANTA AS MOULTRIE INVADES
The Atlanta Constitution, December 7, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—The “Look Alikes” will match touchdowns in a showdown on Friday night. Avondale and Moultrie, primed to debate the Class AAA championship issue before 12,000 clients at Avondale, are the “Look Alikes” who are similar in many respects. Coaches Calvin Ramsey (Avondale) and Knuck McCrary (Moultrie), who are completing their 13th seasons at the same stands, are rated “tossup” although a sidelining ankle sprain sustained by Avondale quarterback Mike Colvard may alter the odds. Moultrie, often a contender but never before a region champion, will invade with a cast including two All-State selectees, halfback Joe Linder and end Bob Montgomery. Linder and fullback Tom Beard scored 36 points each, sub Jimmy Redding 30 and wingback Tommy Sumner 21 .Doug Hall, who shares quarterback duties with Andy Cummings made connection on 55 of 104 passes for 637 yards and eight touchdowns, indicating team balance. Bobby Ricks (188 pounds) ranks as one of the state’s finest tackles. “Region 1-AAA has won five straight state titles and we’re coming to make it six straight,” says McCrary. “But we have a lot of respect for Avondale, a team that can run and has a line that ‘moves out’.” David Cooper, an All-Stater who has galloped for 1,000 plus yards, Lanny Asamoto, Steve Mills and Colvard figured to give Avondale as lethal a running attack as the Packers. Colvard’s absence will be felt. Ray Myers, who has divided time with Colvard, will shoulder the entire offensive load now. But Ramsey moans, “We’ll miss Colvard even more on defense. We’ll move Andy Odom back to Colvard’s sideback spot and use Brad Johnson as outside linebacker.
LaGrange Coach Oliver Hunnicutt says, “Avondale has a great football team, but the Blue Devils will have to play better than they ever have to whip Moultrie” His Grangers nipped Moultrie, 7-6, during the season on a water-logged field. He watched Avondale rip North Fulton for the North Georgia crown, 34-0. “After seeing both teams, I’d say they are very similar in all respects—good balance, good running attacks—and I rate the game an absolute toss-up. Moultrie has better passing and I’d like the Packers if they played at home. I’ll guarantee Avondale one thing, the Packers will strike them like nothing they have seen. They’ll block and tackle. Avondale is quick, but so is Moultrie, and when they cover punts you think they’ve got 14 men on the field. They come off the sidelines like a swarm of june bugs. We believe 1-AAA is the toughest region, and Moultrie proved best of the lot. His boys are well-schooled in fundamentals. They scored 32 points on Valdosta, and that’s unbelievable even in one of Bazemore’s lean years. Knuck will fire them up. Joe Linder is a good runner and pass receiver. Fullback Tom Beard is a solid football player. Bob Montgomery, an all-stater at end, is very, very fine. Doug Hall and Andy Cummings are two pretty fair quarterbacks. The Packers are tough defensively. They run the spread slot and a lot of trap stuff. Calvin Ramsey’s boys can move the ball on the ground, block well and are quick. It should be a whale of a ball game—one that I’ll be there to see.”

Avondale Is Hope of North Georgia
Blue Devils Given Good Chance to Bring AAA Title Upstate
The Atlanta Journal, December 7, 1963, by Terry Kay-- Out in DeKalb County the field of academic achievement is unquestionably No. 1 in the curriculum of the school system, but football serves as the mirror of accomplishment during the wintry cut of the year. Proof of the above will be vividly portrayed Friday evening at Avondale, a sort of mid-county setting where the first of three DeKalb County stadiums was erected some years back. It is a well-known fact that the majestic reign of the Valdosta Wildcats came to an end this year after three straight championships, and the task of defending the southern AAA prestige was passed to the Moultrie Packers. Thus, the drums of speculation have begun and the popular question in every city, village and farm is this: Is this finally the year of north Georgia? Avondale will serve as the team most likely to succeed in years for northern AAA fans. But because the name is Moultrie and not Valdosta is no indication that the deep south boys are going to easily persuaded to surrender superiority.

If the teams could be dissected and labeled this far in advance, these things might appear on the balance sheet. Avondale, which started 1963 with only one returning regular, proved it wants to play to win. It might be said that Coach Calvin Ramsey has taken a team which is below the 1962 par, on a man-to-man basis, and whipped up a feverish belief in victory. But Avondale has not faced the likes of Moultrie this season. The Packer line is big and fast and a considerable amount of depth has been discovered. The name to remember up front is end Bob Montgomery, an all-state. Too, Avondale will find the backfield extremely talented. Quarterback is in the good hands of Doug Hall and reserve Andy Cummings and either does a complete job. At halfback, Joe Linder will be a lad keeping an eye peeled for and Joe Beard is back for action. Beard missed four games this year but still finished No. 5 in region rushing. In fact, a congregation of Moultrie injured is now well and willing, which will help Coach Knuck McCrary’s team. But Moultrie must face two primary forces Friday night. First, it is extremely doubtful that Moultrie has seen a backfield the equal of Lanny Asamoto, David Cooper, Steve Mills and/or Ray Myers or Mike Colvard. Secondly, the game is Avondale Stadium and the Blue Devils have lost but once there. The Avondale backfield is explosive, but must get past the line to be effective and here the Blue Devils may have trouble.

Ramsey’s Compliments to the Band

Glenn Johnson reported that Coach Ramsey paid a great compliment to the Band (and indirectly to the Cheerleaders and all of the other half-time performers): “Coach Ramsey used to look over at the band as they were practicing and tell us, ‘If we worked as hard as the Band did, we would never lose a game’.” All of Avondale’s half-time performers worked hard so they could be the “best” when they took the field. They added to the excitement of fans as they lined up outside the Avondale stadium then proceeding to Death Valley. They generated the chills felt throughout the stadium when the ‘Death Valley’” anthem was played and our Blue Devils charged through the goal posts as the prelude to games. The AAA State Championship was won on the field by our football players, but the honors should be shared with SCHOOL and COMMUNITY that enthusiastically supported the Avondale Blue Devils. Leon Piper says that another coach appreciated his school’s band: “Coach Ramsey had an interesting point of view. 0ur oldest daughter was in the Red Coat Band at UGA for 5 years (one year of grad school) and I swear they practiced more than the football team. One of the highlights of her ‘career’ at UGA was when Coach Vince Dooley came to one of their practices and told them what they meant to the team.”

Some Pre-game Uncertainty
Steve Mills explains why there was a great deal of uncertainty around the Moultrie game: “There was some talk of moving the game to a larger venue, specifically Grant Field, but this was quickly dismissed as our coaches did not want to give up the Death Valley advantage. Instead portable bleachers were installed on the opposite side of the stadium and in the end zone toward Columbia Mall expanding capacity to 12,000. Then for the first time in four years mighty Valdosta was not the south Georgia champion. This year their Region was more balanced league and Moultrie emerged as the winner. They had defeated Glynn Academy, 20-0, a team we found out the following year was very good team. Also, in 1958 Avondale had been tied by Thomasville for a shared state title, but we had never won a championship outright.” George Veal wondered about Moultrie: “We really didn't know what to expect. However, these guys had beaten Valdosta, so we thought they must be an awesome team.”

“Getting Up” for Moultrie
Glenn tells about a couple of things that got the team “up” and focused: “Coach Ramsey gathered the whole team together to tell us about Moultrie. To give us an idea about their ability he said, ‘I think R.E. Lee, only Moultrie is better.’ That scared us to death, but it was his way of making sure that we didn’t get over-confident. As it turned out, they weren’t nearly as good as Lee. After the team ‘grew up” in the Lee game, we kept improving and got better each week through the coaches' efforts. The maturing of a young team and the confidence that grew as we won game after game. We peaked exactly at the right time. When we won the playoff games the way we did, there was no doubt about who was the best team in the state. The other thing that got us ‘up’ happened on Thursday before the game when Coach Ramsey brought us all together at the end of practice and announced that the TD Boosters Club was taking the team to the Gator Bowl. We were sky high that evening and it carried over to the next night when we whipped Moultrie.”

Interchangeable Parts
Steve examines a concern and explains how they had talent that could fill gaps: “The injury to Mike Colvard was a big problem. While we had another fine quarterback in Ray Myers, we would now need to turn to be Glenn Johnson, a less experienced quarterback to back up Ray. As we went through practice, instead of being the scout team quarterback, Glenn was taking some snaps with the first team offense. Glenn did have a lot going for him-- in addition to being a great kicker, he was a very good athlete. He had gained some good experience in our final few games, and he was both extremely smart and confident in his own ability. By the time the game rolled around, I think we all had the same confidence that, if anything happened to Ray, Glenn could step in and get the job done. In the R.E. Lee game, Andy Odom had been injured, so Brad Johnson took over Andy’s outside linebacker spot and Lanny Asamoto stepped into Andy’s offensive slot back position. When Andy returned after healing, he shared time with Brad and Lanny. For the Moultrie game, Andy slid back to the safety position to replace Mike and, now, an experienced Brad would play the full game at outside linebacker. In the Moultrie game, Andy had a monster first half, when he was substituted for Lanny at times on offense.” Glenn tells how he was prepared to step in for the injured Mike Colvard: “Early in the week, Colvard twisted his ankle and was lost for the game, which gave us cause to be worried, but our worries were unfounded. Coach made the necessary changes on defense and set me up to be the back-up quarterback. The best compliment I ever got was when Coach came to me and got me out of study hall the day of the game. We spent an hour going over the game plan, just in case I was needed. As it turned out, I wasn’t needed because Ray Myers played ‘like his pants were on fire’, for the best game of his career.”

A Masterful Plan
Steve credits our coaches with a plan to exploit a tendency by Moultrie’s defense: “The coaches noticed how quickly Moultrie's defensive backs reacted to offensive flow in one direction. In the hopes of taking advantage of this tendency, our coaches installed a new play. David Cooper would go in motion to the right, starting the flow in that direction. Ray would take a couple steps to his right, then pivot, then bootlegging back to his left. Steve Allen, our tight end, would start on a route toward the goal post, then plant his foot sharply and break back toward the flag at left side of the end zone. As the fullback, I took a step to my right then countered back left to block the defensive end. It took a real strong arm to make that throw across the field, but Ray had a gun. Hopefully, we would have a chance to use this play.” Glenn describes an offensive play that was put in to take advantage of Moultrie’s defensive set: “Moultrie ran an ‘eagle 5-4’ defense, where the nose guard had the two tackles on either side and with the ends flanked out, leaving gaps filled by two linebackers. The linebackers and tackles just switched alignment relative to our offensive line . Coach Ramsey put in a play to run Mills to the weak side (away from the wingback) through the hole between our offensive tackle and end. David Bentley would block the linebacker who was playing off the line in the gap. As it turned out, Mills gained 6 or 7 yards the five or six times he ran it, and Mills finished the first drive with a TD. We wondered why no other coach saw the flaw in their defense, but Mills had a great night—they couldn’t stop us.”
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964
Steve Mills—AHS 1965

Mighty Avondale Unloads on Stunned Moultrie, 40-0
Imps Win the Crown in Corker
The Atlanta Constitution, December 7, 1963, by Charlie Roberts-- Avondale rolled out the red carpet for the Moultrie High School Packers then jerked it out from under them before 12,000 gleeful spectators Friday night. Hospitality ended at 8 o’clock in Death Valley as Calvin Ramsey’s Blue Devils murdered their guests, 40-0, and ran away with the 1963 State Class AAA crown. Winning for the 42nd time in 43 games at six-year old Avondale Stadium, Avondale exploded Knuck McCrary’s Packers and the myth of Region 1-AAA invincibility that had persisted for five straight years in these Georgia playoffs. Avondale, 113-27-6, under Ramsey for 13 years and Class AA State co-championships with Thomasville in 1958 slashed Moultrie’s first region-title team to ribbons from whistle-to-whistle.

The Imps, striking by land with Steve Mills, David Cooper and Lanny Asamoto and by air with Ray Myers-to-Andy Odom and Steve Allen, possessed the ball five times in the first half, scored four touchdowns and owned a 27-0 bulge by intermission. When it was over, Avondale had rollicked for 379 yards and a defensive vise applied by George Veal, Frank Owens, Wade Wilkes and Stanley Anderson had limited the Packers to 140 useless yards. Tackles Ed Spencer and David Bentley, guard Bill Johnson and center Bruce Mather were key blockers in the offensive scythe that leveled the Packers and lifted Region 4-AAA to a state title for the first time since 1955.
Avondale (40)                                   Moultrie (0)
14                           First Downs        5
249                       Yards Rushing     64
130                        Yards Passing    76
12-8                          Passes            14-6
65                         Yards Penalized   41
4-32.7                         Punts             5-32.1
Avondale was enroute to its 12th victory in 13 games this season after smashing 55 yards on eight plays after first taking possession of the football. Mills gutted the Moultrie tackles for 44 yards on five bullish bursts and lashed across from 15 yards away. Glenn Johnson, who finished the season with 45 extra-point kicks in 49 boots, kicked the first of four for the night to make it 7-0. (NOTE: Since such a great action photo in the article captures Steve’s TD, the text is given here: “Steve Mills scatters Moultrie tacklers on a 15-yard scoring trip as George Veal watches him score. Joe Linder, Jay Cranford, Buddy Taylor, Eugene Robenstein, Tom Sumner give chase on Avondale’s first touchdown.” The photo shows two Packers on the ground and four more pursuing at a distance). Four plays later, the Devils took over on a punt and on the third skirmish Odom found a wide gap at tackle and fled 42 yards into the end zone. Johnson kicked it to 14-0 with 1:36 left in the first quarter. Ramsey’s legions switched to airlanes midway in the second quarter after fleet Steve Allen intercepted a Moultrie lateral after a pass completion. Only five plays were required to move the ball 68 yards. Only two plays were pertinent, a 23-yard Myers-to-Asamoto connection and a 34-yard collaboration featuring Myers and Allen. Johnson’s boot went wide and it was 20-0. Avondale took over again with 1:25 remaining in the first half and only needed 1:17 to move the necessary 45 yards. Myers ran for 25 yards to offset a 15-yard penalty, ran Cooper for seven, hit Allen for another seven and Odom for receptions of 6, 11 and 4 yards. Odom snared the four-yard scoring strike and Johnson’s toe made it 27-0.

It was back to the ground route in the opening stages of the third quarter. Mills, Cooper and Odom thrashed 64 yards on 12 capers and it was 34-0 after Johnson’s kick. Cooper scored the TD from a yard out. The longest run of the drive was a 16-yarder by Odom. Allen set up his own second touchdown by intercepting a Doug Hall pass early in the fourth quarter. One play later, Myers fired to Allen, who ran the last 20 yards of a 45-yard scoring play. That made it 40-0 and that’s how it ended. Downcast McCrary made a pertinent comment after the game: “Now I know 13 is my unlucky number. This is my 13th game in my 13th season of coaching.” He could not have been more right. Moultrie had few heroes this night. Joe Linder ran better than any other Packer, but he too was almost completely shackled by the gang-tackling of Avondale’s defense. At one stage Hall began to click with his passes. He hit Bob Montgomery for 12 yards, Dickie Traylor for 37 and Lester Passmore for eight to put the ball four-yards out from the goal early in the second quarter. But Avondale called a halt at the three and never again did Moultrie threaten.
Score by Quarters:
Avondale              14 13 7 6 -- 40
Moultrie                   0  0 0 0 -- 0
Avondale Scoring: TDs-- Steve Mills, 15-yard run; Andy Odom, 42-yard run; Steve Allen, 34-yard pass from Ray Myers; Andy Odom, 4-yard pass from Ray Myers; David Cooper, 1-yard run; Steve Allen, 45-yard pass from Ray Myers; PATs—Glenn Johnson, 4 kicks

ALL’S QUIET IN THE SOUTH AS AAA CROWN TAKEN
Avondale Downs Moultrie, 40-0, to Win Title
The Atlanta Journal, December 7, 1963, by Tom McCollister—Those joyous cries of AAA superiority from south Georgia, heard by its northern neighbors for those five past years, have now been hushed—quieted in resounding fashion by Avondale’s completely convincing 40-0 victory over Moultrie. Knuck McCrary, who brought his Packers up north to win only saw his team outclassed in every respect. It was Andy Odom who supplied much of the flames that engulfed Moultrie’s title dreams. The game was expected to be closer, especially when it was learned that quarterback Mike Colvard would not play due to a sprained ankle. Ray Myers stepped in to show that he could get the job done. He completely baffled Moultrie with his passing and faking. Eight of 12 passes reached their mark for 130 yards and three touchdowns and he ran forward three time for 28 yards. Mills, almost alone, got the first one for Avondale. On a 52-yard march in the first quarter, he gained 45 of them and the six-pointer. Odom got the next on a beautiful fake by Myers, going 42-yards off tackle. Then Myers pitched and Allen caught it for 34 yards and another six-pointer. Odom scored again with only ten seconds left in the half, catching a four-yard pass from Myers. In came Cooper in the third period to add more glitter to Avondale’s star. A 64-yard march was capped by his one-yard plunge. His 34 yards on carries ate up most of the real estate. Allen scored the last touchdown, hauling in a 45-yarder from Myers. Avondale scored six of the ten times it held the ball. Moultrie only came close once. George Veal, Odom, Cooper, Allen, Ricky Black, Stanley Anderson, et al, played defense the way Ramsey likes—hardnosed. They gave up only 64 ground yards and 77 by air, leaving the Packers a disheartened band.

The First Drive to Score was Mostly Mills

Steve Mills outlines Avondale’s first possession: “The 1963 State Championship game started with us kicking off to Moultrie. Our defense held them to three plays and out. They punted, and we got the ball near mid field. We opened the game with a play called ‘35g’, where the play went right toward the slot. I am sure of this, as it was George Veal, the pulling right guard who led the play. In this case, Cooper went in motion to the right, taking their outside linebacker out of the play. Spencer blocked down on the defensive guard. Lanny and Eddie Sanders double teamed the linebacker and George pulled to the right to kick out the defensive end. The first time we ran it, we gained about eight yards. The paper said that I gained 44 of the 52 yards in five carries on that first drive. The last time the play was called, I scored from about 15 yards out, all due to the great work up front by Spencer, Asamoto, Sanders and my lifetime pal George Veal. Oddly enough, I don't think we ran the play the rest of the game.”

Dominance Was Established Early

George Veal anticipated the final playoff game: “This was an extremely exciting game, as we were playing for the state championship. Prior to the game, as we were suiting up, Bob Bowen and I had a brief conversation. We said that we didn't know what to expect, but both of us felt like we were ready. As the game started and we had run a few plays, I remember thinking that these guys aren't that tough-- we can handle them. Bruce Mather and I doubled teamed their nose guard and blew him down the field. Bruce and I just looked at each other and said: ‘We have this guy’s number.’ Then it was time for me to pull and block their end who the coaches had described as the ‘Great Wall of China’. Well, the Great Wall crumbled from our assault, and we scored again.” Steve Mills adds his comments about all-state defensive end Montgomery: “I always paid attention to the defensive ends, since I was often matched up with them in blocking situations. My impression was the same as George's. Perhaps Montgomery just had a bad game against us, but I did not think he was all that good, either.”

Avondale’s Amazing Defense
Glenn Johnson did a statistical analysis of the Blue Devil’s defense: “In 13 games only four TD's were scored while the starting defensive unit was on the field. That's how dominant our defense was. Even if you count all the scores, 66 points in 13 games is pretty impressive-- a little over five points per game. Even if you count the two TDs scored against me while I was playing defense in the Southwest DeKalb game, there were still only six TDs scored by the opponent’s offense. Less than half a TD per game. The other three TDs were scored off of two fumble returns and a kickoff return. I don’t know if there has ever been a more dominant defense at that level. What’s amazing is that the best two teams we played, R.E. Lee and Westminster, never scored a TD against our starting defense. In both the regular season and playoff games, Westminster never scored on our defense.”

A View from Moultrie’s Line

David Bentley gives credit to Moultrie’s interior defensive line that influenced our play calling: “We handled Moultrie pretty well, but they never let up the whole game. Their tackles where still 
firing into the line and hitting just as hard on the last play as they did on the first. Even though the score didn't show it, we had to work as hard in that game as any we played. I don't remember about the backs, but Coach left the first string offensive line in for the entire game.” Steve Mills recalls, “From early in the fourth quarter, I was on the bench—perhaps the continuing need for linemen may have differed from the backs.” George continues: “One of the defensive backs for Moultrie works for Athens Seed Co. in Watkinsville, where I buy a lot of my feed and seed. He remembers Mills well. He told me he had never before been run over so completely and that Mills cleaned his clock twice. He said that he hated to admit it, but that he started to hate to see Mills coming. He prayed that a lineman would stop him first, but that didn't happen very often. Somebody described the eagle 5-4 defense that they played, and I'd like to add details. They lined the tackles up on the inside shoulder of our offensive tackles and aimed at a 45% angle at our guards butt, then they fired hard to the inside. This made it very difficult to run up the middle or to run inside traps which we had done a lot all year. That night we ran nearly everything off tackle or outside. All of our backs ran well, but Mills was the real workhorse that night.”

Avondale—A Team That Was Agile, Mobile and Hostile
Mike recalls an answer to a question posed to hall of fame coach Jake Gaither of Florida A & M: “When asked how he wanted his players, he replied, “agile, mobile and hostile”. We had David Cooper as “Agile, Andy Odom, Lanny Asamoto, Steve Allen & a host of juniors who were “Mobile” and Eddie Sanders, Stanley Anderson , George Veal, Frank Owen and many more who were “Hostile”. The offensive juggernaut and the most formidable, unrelenting defense proved Ramsey had an “agile, mobile and hostile” group of high schoolers.” Glenn sings the praises of Avondale’s starting “hostile” defensive unit: “In 13 games only 4 TD's were scored while the starting defensive unit was on the field. That's how dominant our defense was."

Ramsey—the Ultimate Motivator
Glenn tells how Coach Ramsey never let up his motivation: “Coach was not one to let us get complacent even when we had a good lead. When we walked in the dressing room at half-time, with a 27 point lead, and with a defense that had given up only two TD's in our last six games, Coach said, ‘Ya’ll are going to have to tighten up on defense. They can score four TDs and beat us because Scottdale missed an extra point.’ He never let up on us, never let us quit improving, always making us strive to get better.” Stephanie Strand Blomeyer wishes the football team could have observed at least some of the half-time show: “I can understand that Coach Ramsey would not allow you boys to get complacent, but you would have thought he would allow you a little glimpse of The Avonettes and Majorettes with a 27-point lead at half-time! “ David Cooper has his regrets: “Even if it would never happen, all of us still wish it would have been!” George Veal agrees: “ We were not even allowed a peek! LOL”

Avondale’s “Hit” Parade
Glenn describes Moultrie’s one threat to score: “Moultrie mounted only one threat all night long. About half-way through the second quarter they were on our 4-yard line. They ran an off-tackle 
play with Joe Linder carrying off their left tackle --our right side-- there was a hole you could drive a Mack truck through. But just as he got to the line of scrimmage, out of nowhere appeared one Mr. Frank Owen. I don't know if he put a spin move on the blocker or just pushed him aside, but he appeared in the hole and tackled Linder for little or no gain. They never threatened again. This was one of the three best tackles of the year for our team. The first was Stanley's hit on the R. E. Lee runner who fumbled and set up our winning TD, the second was the tackle Cooper made on Chapman in the Westminster playoff game, and this one. Every time we turned around, someone was making a great play, and it was always a different person. That's how much talent we had. We had playmakers all over the field. This is why Coach Ramsey called this his favorite team.” George Veal got an ultimatum right before halftime: “Moultrie threw a long pass and got inside our ten-yard line. When we called time out, I went to the sideline to talk to Coach Ramsey expecting him to tell me to look out for a certain play or something. Instead, he surprised me and said, ‘I don't care what defense you call, just make sure you stop them’. Fortunately we did.” Frank Owen recalls the play that made the stop: “This was to be a trap  play-- I was to be the trap target. George Veal and I called it as soon as they got to the line. George slid inside to make the tackle, but I got rid of the pulling guard to make the tackle. This was a great game, but we really wanted to play Valdosta to avenge our 1960 loss.”

It Takes a Team
Steve Mills sets up the action on Andy Odom’s first quarter touchdown: "After the second-half kickoff we stopped Moultrie again. We made a first down, then we ran the play Glenn described: the pitch sweep to the left to Andy Odom, and 42 yards later we were up 14-0.” Andy Odom remembers the help that he got that enabled him to make that touchdown: “On my touchdown run, the original call was for Cooper to run to the right. When Ray saw the defensive alignment, he checked off and called a play for me to run to the left, off tackle. When I turned the corner, I think Eddie Sanders had knocked the cornerback to the ground and I just jumped over him. Nobody touched me on the play thanks to perfect execution by my teammates. I can't say enough about the line. They were the best on offense and defense.”

Allen’s Incredible Interception
Steve describes a trick play by Moultrie that ended with an alert defensive play by Steve Allen: “We kicked off after Andy’s TD, and this time the versatile Moultrie offense made a bid to get back in the game. They strung together several first downs and had the ball on about our 35-yard line when they attempted a trick play called 'the hook and ladder'. On this play the left end ran a hook pattern and the quarterback threw him the ball. As defenders would converge on the ball to make the tackle, the end would lateral the ball to a halfback who was sprinting to the outside and, if successful, he would race to the end zone. In this case, Steve Allen was our closest defender. They were able to complete the pass to the end. As Allen moved toward the receiver to make the tackle, just as he got there, he recognized the receiver's intent to lateral the ball. Steve then made a 270 degree spin off the end, stuck out his right arm and, with one hand, Allen intercepted the lateral, stopping the drive and giving us back the ball. I think that was Moultrie's last gasp."

Precise Execution of a New Play
Steve gives the details on a new play that led to a 21-0 lead: "The game moved into the 2nd quarter and settled down for just a bit. I think they stopped us once, but our defense continued to throttle their every move. In the middle of the 2nd quarter, we started another drive that reached about their 40. It was time for the play we had put in that week, called ‘fake 18 and reverse sprint out’. Cooper motioned to the right; Ray Myers took a couple steps to his right, as did I. Then as we reversed back to the left, I was to block the defensive end, Ray was to throw the ball. Steve Allen, who had been driving toward the post from his left tight end position, planted his foot and broke back toward the flag at the left side of the end zone. Ray hit him full stride and we were ahead three touchdowns."

Quick Thinking by the Backfield
Steve describes a “last second” TD before the half: “After the kickoff, we were able to stop them and got the ball back with little time left on the clock in the first half. Ray moved us down the field, with only seconds remaining, when he completed a pass to the 4-yard line. Since the ball was in-bounds with too little time to huddle and call a play, we raced to line up-- Ray, Cooper, Andy and I—and all of us were shouting, ’18, 18, 18’ (a roll out to the right). Our split end went to the back corner of the end zone, and our slot back ran to the flat. Andy, who was in the game at slot because he might have been a slightly better receiver, caught the pass for a touchdown with 4 seconds remaining. If the pass had been incomplete, the clock would have stopped and given us time for Glenn to kick a field goal. Glenn says that Ray was intending to throw the ball to Eddie Sanders our end, but I am not so sure. “ Andy Odom adds his comment: “I’m not sure whether the pass was intended for me or not. Glenn said it was supposed to be for the end (Eddie Sanders) and that I just reached up and got it.”

Special Honors for Colvard and Cooper

Steve describes a special play: that was called: "The 2nd half was a blur. We ran the reverse sprint out play for another long (45-yard) touchdown from Ray to Steve Allen. In his final game, David Cooper was given the honor of scoring the last touchdown from a yard out. Coach Ramsey sent Mike Colvard limping in for one play, where he pitched the ball to Cooper for a one-yard TD-- he got out of David's way, and then he limped off the field. Coach Ramsey wanted Mike to be able to say that he played in the championship game. In the end, Ray had a super game. I think he completed 8 out of 12 passes for 130 yards. It was surreal from the middle of the 4th quarter. Sitting on the bench with a feeling of jubilation, watching the back-up players finish a state championship game, as if it were Briarcliff or Druid Hills. It was simply beyond imagination." Auburn Coach Shug Jordan made a statement that applies perfectly to Avondale’s 40-0 championship victory over Moultrie: "Always remember-- Goliath was a 40 point favorite over David."

Win by Never Quitting
Glenn tells about little victories in the “games” within a game: “We were taught to ‘win by never quitting on any play’. In the Moultrie game after I blocked my man, we both got up on our feet. Then I ran in front of him and blocked him again, just as I had done in the Decatur game. He took issue with my second block, so he elbowed my head while I was lying on the ground. The referee saw the hit and penalized him for unsportsmanlike conduct. We gained 15 yards from that penalty that was added to Cooper’s run during the 3rd quarter drive where he scored—another small victory.” Judging by the strong constitution of our Blue Devils, the whole team endorsed and practiced Coach Ramsey’s winning philosophy.

He Was Treated Like Family
Glenn had hoped his parents could see him play for the first time ever: “I asked my dad, who worked on second shift at the Mill, to get someone from first shift to swap with him, so he could come to the Moultrie game. He worked it out, but at the last minute, the replacement had something come up and could not take my dad’s place on Friday night. Since my dad found out late that he had to work, my mom did not have enough time to get a ride ( she did not drive). So it turned out that my parents never got to see me play in any football game, Little League baseball, or Gray Y football in grammar school. I mention this because I want to acknowledge the kindness given to me by the parents of some of my teammates—they treated me like family. They welcomed me into their homes and were always there to congratulate me when I did well. This meant so much to me. Even though they didn’t have sons who were my teammates, the Treadwells, Frontiers and Cheneys were there for me. Mr. Colvard always went out of his way to speak to me—so did Mr. Mills, Mr. Owens, the Asamotos, and Mr. Meyers who never missed a practice or a game. Mr. Brinsfield even went so far as to get me a tryout with the Falcons when they first came to town, but I turned him down because I didn’t want to leave my job at the start of my career. His gesture meant a lot to me, and I am forever grateful. Paul Brinsfield and I bonded because he became the kicker after I graduated. His dad was one of the finest people I’ve ever known.”

Reflections on 1963
Mike Lingle has some reflections: “As I reminisce about the state championship team, I would be remiss if the juniors on this team did not receive all the accolades meted out to a champion.” Andy Odom tells about Avondale’s impression of a Moultrie player: “A friend of mine had a cousin who played for Moultrie. He told her that they were beat before they ever took the field. When they arrived in Avondale, he said they were in awe as the Avondale police escorted them through town and approached our high school. We were having a pep rally out front, and the sign ‘Death Valley’ was hanging on the stadium.” George Veal reflects on the 1963 season, which changed his life: "On August 1, 1963, I had no idea what role I would play on the team. At the end of spring practice I was second team guard and second team defensive line. I had no confidence in myself or my ability to play football. Four months later, I reflected on a season in which I started on offense and defense on a state championship team. Thanks to Coach Ramsey's confidence in me, I gained confidence in myself. Besides my parents, Coach Ramsey was the most influential person in my life. I will forever be in debt to him.” David Cooper sums up the season: “This game, like the North Fulton game, seemed easy compared to the teams we had already defeated. All of our plays worked, and all of our players were better. We had better cheerleaders, better drill team, better band, and better fans. The only thing that was a little bad was that I had to get up early the following morning to take the SAT.” George continues his after-game thoughts: “After the game I remember celebrating, then going home. I sat in my chair after Mom and Dad had gone to bed, and I thought, ‘Damn, I can't believe we did it. We are the State Champions, the best in the state of Georgia.’ Thus, ended one of the greatest years of my life.” Yes, the same could be said about all Blue Devils who performed on the field as football players and half-time performers, the student body, and our Community.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960 Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964 George Veal—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964 David Bentley—AHS 1965 Stephanie Strand Blomeyer—AHS 1964 Andy Odom—AHS 1964

Avondale’s Road to Recognition and Redemption
Early in the 1963 season, sportswriters and coaches had understandable reservations about the prospects of the Blue Devils due to the depletion of talent by graduation that left only one of 11 starters and the loss 16 of their 17 top performers. When Avondale blitzed Brown, 35-6, in the opener that got some attention, but a slim 13-6 victory over Gordon caused some to wonder if Gordon was that good or was Avondale just average. Avondale stood its ground against Westminster, but lost 7-0 on a questionable kickoff return for the game’s only score. The next battle with formidable R. E. Lee proved the Blue Devil’s mettle by defeating them 7-3. As the Decatur game neared, the Gordon coach whose team had played both Avondale and Decatur leaned toward a physically impressive and star-laden Bulldog team, nut Avondale rolled to a 21-6 victory. After winning eight of nine regular season games by increasingly dominating performances, there were still skeptics when the playoffs began. Charlie Roberts’ column thought Avondale was worthy, but hedged his bets by repeating rumors that “Decatur fans could smell an upset”. Wrong again, as the Blue Devil’s buried Decatur 42-14. Picking No. 1-ranked Westminster over Avondale in the 3-AAA and 4-AAA playoff game was somewhat understandable, the Blue Devils had the skeptics puzzled over the 28-0 shellacking of the Wildcats and proving that Avondale’s “Death Valley” was no myth. At last, the playoff with North Fulton was easy because the City teams were weaker than the suburban teams, so a 34-0 win for the north Georgia AAA title was not a surprise. Then here comes Moultrie to play Avondale, as south Georgia champions representing a Region 1-AAA that had won five straight state crowns. Highly respected Coach Oliver Hunnicutt leaned toward the Moultrie but conceded that it was a toss-up. Of course he was only off by 40 points, as the Blue Devils swept over the Packers 40-0. After bigger and bigger margins of victory as Avondale finished the regular season and by dominating four playoff opponents, 144-14, the Blue Devils finally secured the respect of Jesse Outlar and Charlie Roberts that they had won on the grid iron. Outlar wrote, “This writer has never seen a better high school team than Avondale was last Friday night.” Roberts ranked, “ Calvin Ramsey as one of Georgia’s Greatest coaches through the years, and the Blue Devils as one of the really great all-time elevens.” It took a while, but Avondale finally was given due recognition after the amazing development of players and world-class coaching led an inexperienced team to the pinnacle of success—the Georgia State AAA Football Championship.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960

The Final Chapter
In this final edition of the epic series on Avondale’s 1963 State AAA football championship, Glenn Johnson and David Cooper share several heartfelt revelations of several experiences they had held close until now. Steve Mills graciously profiles the seniors who played a role in winning the championship. Gerry Lingle takes a stab at identifying the key factors that enabled Avondale to win the 1963 AAA state championship. During the course of this series treasured memories have been conjured to a special time in our lives. I was honored to be entrusted with filing the game reports, collecting player’s accounts and editing their stories. Their personal accounts were the best part of any article, which were often being heard for the first time. One thing that keeps coming out is the influence and genius of Coach Ramsey. At times this celebration of the championship seems to have been a pilgrimage on holy ground—your memories. After more than 100 pages and 60,000 words were recorded, this priceless saga has come to an end as we conclude our final “Pep Rally” of an unforgettable season because many of our lives were defined during this time….Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960

AVONDALE CHAMPS
The Atlanta Constitution, December 8, 1963, by Jesse Outlar—The nearest thing to Avondale on Friday night is Baton Rouge on Saturday night. Calvin Ramsey’s Blue Devils, who seldom lose on any field, “never” lose at home. Actually, they have lost one game while winning 42 since Avondale Stadium was built in 1958. Decatur administered the one set back last year. The 42nd victory Friday night climaxed Ramsey’s fantastic career at Avondale. Region One teams had won the State AAA crown five years in a row and neutral observers thought that Moultrie had an excellent chance of stretching the skein to six. No lesser authority than Oliver Hunnicutt of LaGrange, who had observed both teams, rated the championship contest a toss-up. Superbly prepared Avondale routed a good Moultrie team, 40-0, in an awesome exhibition. Dejected Coach Knuck McCrary said he had never encountered a sharper opponent. This writer has never seen a better high school team than Avondale was last Friday night. The Blue Devils struck for touchdowns the first five of the six times they got their hands on the ball. They halted Moultrie on their own three-yard line in the second quarter, and the Packers never came close again.

Forty-two victories in 43 games is a stupendous feat. While the new state champions celebrated their triumph in the school cafeteria, someone asked Ramsey how he gets the youngsters so riled up. “I don’t have to say anything,” said Ramsey. “When they strike up the band in Death Valley, our kids start striking.” The Blue Devils shared an AA state title with Thomasville in 1958 and lost to Valdosta, 20-14, in the 1960 AAA show down. Until Friday night they had never had a shot at the crown in their own back-yard, and they made the most of the opportunity. No one in prep circles takes Avondale lightly, but this wasn’t supposed to be the year for Cal Ramsey’ crew. The Blue Devils lost 10 of 11 starters and 15 of their 16 best troops. But Ramsey and assistants Tip Goza and Ed Myers went to work. They had a tremendous halfback in David Cooper, perhaps the best 155-pounder in prep football. The little man, who bears a striking resemblance to Jimmy Thompson of Georgia Tech fame, convinced this observer Friday night he can play football for any of the 12 SEC teams.

Blue Devils won Playoffs, 144-14
As the season progressed, opponents keyed on David Cooper and Lanny Asamoto, a Japanese halfback, Steve Allen and fullback Steve Mills came on strong. So did junior quarterback Mike Colvard and senior quarterback Ray Myers. Colvard sprained his ankle two days before the Moultrie game, and Myers hit his peak in his final game. Westminster blanked Avondale, 7-0, 
but the Blue Devils won their other eight regular season starts. Then they took a tall climb to the throne room in four playoff games. The Blue Devils bashed Decatur, 42-14, to seal the Region 4-AAA title. In a rematch with Westminster, Avondale won by a shocking 28-0 margin. Then they whaled North Fulton,34-0, to clinch the North Georgia crown. But they saved their best performance until the last. “I don’t believe they made a single mistake,” said stunned Coach Knuck McCrary. “We didn’t make many,” the beaming Ramsey agreed. In the four playoff wins en route to the championship, Avondale outscored its foes 144-14. Avondale boosters are treating their champions with a trip to the Gator Bowl game, and booster club president Jack Almand says contributions from boosters will be welcome. “I think Avondale should play North Carolina in the Gator Bowl,” said avid booster Wally Cochran. While they would be overmatched in the Gator Bowl, but at Avondale’s “Death Valley” Avondale just might....

North Rises Again
Starless Avondale Twinkles
The Atlanta Constitution, December 8, 1963, by Charlie Roberts—Avondale blitzed Moultrie, 40-0, as it enjoyed a “home-field” advantage playing before 12,000 friendly faces and winning the 42nd of 43 excursions to “Death Valley”. The Blue Devils, winning so decisively with scythe-like precision blocking and dedicated gang tackling established football as a “team game”. Calvin Ramsey, as one of Georgia’s Greatest coaches through the years, and the Blue Devils, as one of the really great all-time elevens, compares with greats the like of Boys High in 1941, Tech High in 1946, Brown in 1949 and Valdosta in 1962.

Ramsey’s won-lost-tied credentials at Avondale, 113-27-6 in 13 seasons and 72-7-2 for seven years, require no embellishments. But this had to be his greatest coaching job—with magnificent help from Tip Goza and Ed Meyer. Ramsey had lost 10 of 11 starters and 16 of his 17 top performers to graduation at the outset. And even as Moultrie became the Imps 12th victim in 13 outings, those closest to Avondale admit that halfback David Cooper is the only Devil in the “star” class. Center Stanley Anderson (190) and specialist Glenn Johnson who kicked 45 extra points in 49 tries are the only seniors labeled as college prospects—at least on the Southeastern Conference level. This doesn’t include juniors Steve Mills and fleet Steve Allen. Fullback Mills, at 170 and an outstanding blocker and runner, will be wooed by many next year. He could become more outstanding than predecessor Tommy Carlisle, Georgia Tech’s sparkling freshman fullback.

The Portrait of a Champion
The DeKalb New Era, December 12, 1963, by Terry Kay—Coach Calvin Ramsey is tall and impressively quiet. When he says something , you hear him the first time, for there is a fiber of discipline running through him that most men lack. He has been coaching at Avondale 13 seasons. His best year was 1963 when Ramsey coached his 100th victory. He also stretched his career record to 108-27-6, won Region 4-AAA, the 4-AAA and 5-AAA playoff, the north Georgia playoff, and the State AAA championship. For 1963, Ramsey was named coach-of-the year in every poll. He talks to it: “Yea, you can’t ask for much better than the 1963 season. We had one player with any real experience returning and we just had to go with the rest and do our best. But we knew they had potential, that they could go either way. Fortunately, they chose to go the right way to be winners. But then again, they were a great group of boys—not many problem children. To be honest, we had no idea that we would win the state. We thought Westminster would stop us in the 4-AAA and 5-AAA playoff. But our boys had grown up by then. They became men at Robert E. Lee, a team we barely beat (7-3) and that one really hit us.” Avondale was unstoppable by the time the State AAA championship was played. Moultrie came up to Avondale Stadium—the one called “Death Valley”—and played the Blue Devils. When it was over, Ramsey’s boys wore a size-40 crown.
There is something about winning a state title that marks a team, like being in the bulls-eye of a target—people aim at you. “All we are going to try to do in 1964 is to keep people off our backs,” said Ramsey. “We’re in a tough region. Even though we have more returning than we did in 1963, and some fine boys at that, we are aware of what can happen. We hope the kids don’t get too satisfied.” What returns for Avondale begins with an M—Mills, Steve Mills, a compact fullback with a bulldozer motor. He is short, stacks 180 pounds on his skeletal makeup and he will be tough to handle. Ramsey smiles when he talks about Mills. Returning quarterback Mike Colvard has the smarts and is athletically inclined. Brad Johnson, barring knee miseries, will be the man to replace both David Cooper and Lanny Asamoto—if that is possible, for the two-departed Blue Devils were sensational. But people like Charlie Dudish, a ninth-grader, will help ease the backfield strain, even though depth could be a problem. Avondale lost some powerful linemen and got some of the same back. Gone are the likes of Steve Allen, Ricky Black, Eddie Sanders, Frank Owen, Wade Wilkes, and Stanley Anderson. But Bruce Mather returns to the relief of Ramsey. He is the 145-pound center who kept getting in Moultrie’s defensive backfield. And he has John Mangrum (185), Harold Bright (180), James Sharp (210), David Bentley (195) Ed Spencer (185), Gene Webb (180), Jerry Gulledge ( 175), Billy Brice (160), George Veal (175and defensive play caller), Bob Bowen (185), Bill Johnson (155) and Paul Brinsfield (175). All of these linemen have had experience, some of it extensive. They are relatively small , but know what the word “execution” means and they carry out the meaning—it’s the secret of Avondale’s success. Ramsey points out some holes that need to be filled: “We need a slot man. We have to get a defensive secondary. Only Colvard is experienced back there, but we’ve got Andy Jones working to take Cooper’s place on defense.” It will be a tough year for Avondale. The Blue Devils are in the bulls-eye now and Calvin Ramsey has a cautious eye toward the aimers.

Steve Mills Profiles our Seniors Who Played Such an Important Role in the 1963 State Championship
Eddie Sanders-- starting defensive end and split end; very tough defender as well as well as good hands. He had the deadliest forearm of any defensive end that I ever faced. I hated trying to block him in practice. His status as a “warrior” was emblazoned on his chin that was constantly in need of stitches.
Wade Wilkes-- he was my backup at fullback, who stepped into the Westminster game and showed what a good runner he was. Also, he found a niche at defensive tackle as a pass rusher. He was relentless.
Stanley Anderson-- a great defender. Had he not made the facemask-shattering tackle in the R. E. Lee game, we would not have had this story about the 1963 season.
Frank Owen-- a mountain of a man, leader of our defensive line. A rock of Gibraltar.
Ricky Black-- manned the weak side defensive End; big, strong, and mean.
Steve Allen-- our captain and leader; not big, but wiry strong. Versatile-- could play slot back, tight end, and outside linebacker. Great defender with super football instincts. If Steve were an airplane, he would be an “interceptor”, as he pulled in three in just one game.
Andy Odom-- really athletic guy, started the season as a two-way starter at slot back and outside linebacker. Injured midseason at R. E. Lee, but returned toward the end of the year. Showed his versatility by moving to safety for the state championship game and scored two offensive TD's as well.
Lanny Asamoto began the season as a reserve slot back. When he got his chance to play he exploded onto the scene. Our fastest player I think he averaged over 10 yards a carry; had recognition as back-of-the-week.
Ray Myers-- the “throwing half” of our quarterback tandem, but he was a good runner as well. He had his best game in the championship game throwing for three TD's.
GLENN JOHNSON-- great placekicker/kickoff guy. Good athlete as well. He ran the scout team in practice but became the back-up quarterback for the Moultrie game when Mike Colvard was injured.
David Cooper-- AAA back of the year. He was not big or super fast but strong (demonstrated in winning multi-year wrestling state championships), with the balance of a gymnast and the heart of a warrior. He was a fabulous kick returner and tailback. David was the heart and soul of our offense and a great defensive back as well. As good as he was on offense, he may have been a better defensive back.

Andy Odom sent a 1963 Avondale Blue Devil football team roster so that everyone on the team gets mentioned: “As Glenn has pointed out, the first string players were only as good as the second and third string and other players who we practiced against.”
Many of our Blue Devil underclassmen were major contributors as their amazing talent development rounded out the team in 1963, but their names were conspicuously absent from many all-star lists. It would be another year before due recognition was given to a talent-rich squad that made another run for a state championship in 1964. To name a few outstanding players, the following were named to the 1964 All- State team:
First team—Steve Mills, Back; George Veal, Guard. Honorable Mention-- Bob Bowen, Guard; Mike Colvard, Back; Jerry Gulledge, Tackle; Brad Johnson, Back; John Mangrum, End; Ed Spencer, Tackle; Gary West, Back.

GLENN JOHNSON Reflects on Some Memories About Special People and Moments He Encountered as a Blue Devil
It's been a blast reliving all the events of the '63 football season, including the ups and the downs. Fortunately, the ups well outnumbered the downs. As we complete this trip, I am reminded of other events that otherwise might have never come to light without being prompted by the memories of the other participants in this exercise. My memory of these events, especially in regards to Coach Ramsey, was a result of the fact that I was by his side on the sideline a lot of the time. The other guys were out on the field executing plays, and I got to watch them. I'm reminded of the efforts of everybody involved with the '63 team, especially the trainers and managers who were the best at doing their jobs. They worked tirelessly to keep up with the daily needs of the team and coaches. One particular event comes to mind. In '63 there was a rule change that allowed kickers to use a two- inch tee as opposed to the one-inch used the year before. The rule was so new that there were no two- inch tees on the market. Mickey Lingle took the old one-inch tees home one weekend and cut out pieces of one-inch plywood to the same dimensions as the tees and taped them to the tees, thus rendering two-inch tees. These were used until the new tees were acquired. It was just one way the trainers went above and beyond in their jobs. I'm reminded of the legacy of excellence established by the players who came before us-- people like Hugh Tankersley, Jit Reinhardt, Wilburn Williamson, David Browning, Frank James, Eddie Polley, Tommy Wolfe, Ed Pritchett, Tommy Carlisle, and all the great linemen like Stanley Bell and the Bell brothers (Kit and Bruce), Calvin Lott, Mike Herron, Jimmy Cooley, Mike Slye, and Dayton Johnson. I have followed these people ever since the team practiced in Scottdale, where I ran around sneaking lemons to them due to Coach Ramsey’s “water rule”. They left a legacy to which all of us aspired. When leaving Scottdale Elementary, people told Ray Myers and me, "Y’all can't play for Avondale, because they take football seriously up there." We made a pact that "whatever it took, we would play at Avondale and be Blue Devils." The team knew what was expected to carry on that tradition, and we accepted that calling whole heartedly. The commitment to live up to the tradition of excellence and winning was shown in our off-season workouts, to which David Cooper alluded in an earlier post. In 1963 we knew we had a long hill to climb with so many new players in the line-up. Everybody, to a man, bought into the proposition that we would be successful only with hard work. We lived up to the tradition and set a new standard for those who followed us. I'm reminded of the opponents we faced each week and how we found out, after the season, that they were nice people after all. We had to build up a lot of dislike for them during the season so we could get up for the games, but they weren't such bad people. The Chadwick brothers-- Walter, Dennis, and Alan-- who played for hated Decatur, were from a fine family. Their father lost his wife at an early age and raise those boys on his own. They turned out to be fine people. Ray and I went out for track in the spring of '64, since there was no "spring practice" for us. Ray threw the javelin and I long jumped. During the DeKalb relays, which we hosted, I landed wrong in the long jump pit and turned my ankle. The first person who came to my aid was Josh Veal, the "other" halfback on the Decatur team. He was so gracious and humble, I couldn't believe he played at Decatur. He was very congratulatory about our two wins over them. Earlier in the track season, we had a dual meet with R. E. Lee. Some of their football players were on the track team and they were coached by Jim Cavan, who was also their football coach. They were such nice people and were very gracious about our win over them. Coach Cavan was very gracious and called us the best team he ever saw. I told him, "Coach, we won the state the night we beat y’all." He responded, "Well, y’all earned it." I'm reminded of how Jimmy Cooley cried his heart out in the dressing room after the 7-6 loss to Decatur in '62 and how Coach Ramsey tried to console him. It was a bitter loss, but seeing Coach Ramsey attempt to console Jimmy was one of the most tender moments I ever experienced as an athlete. It showed that, through that tough facade, Coach Ramsey cared about his players. We as a team in 1963 never wanted to experience that feeling of loss again, the finality of it coming in a playoff game. That sentiment drove us throughout the '63 season and caused us to peak at the perfect time and propelled us to the championship. I'm reminded of the eloquent note that Andy Jones wrote in my annual in the spring of '64. A lot has been made of the role of the "scout team." We appreciate it and we embraced it. In his note, Andy gave me credit for pushing him on the Scout team to be a better player, which resulted in him becoming a starter in the "64 season. Was it true? I doubt it, because he was a fine player who would have done well on his own, but it was a nice gesture, and I am grateful. I mention this because I think it shows the camaraderie we had on that team. Everybody pushed everybody else. No one slacked off. We had great physical talent, but more importantly, we had great leadership on that team. I think that is pretty evident. I'm reminded of the efforts by Coach Tankersley to try and land me a scholarship. He called me over to his house one day and composed a letter which was sent to every school in the southeast. Coach Ramsey signed them to lend credence to the letters, but it was Coach Tank who composed the body and compiled the stats to impress those coaches. I visited a few schools but got no offers. I got a lot of nice rejection letters. Nice, but rejections none the less. Coach Tank didn't have to do that, but I am eternally grateful. Again, it shows how our coaches cared enough about us to take those measures. Lastly, I'm reminded that I was moved to tears twice regarding Coach Ramsey. First, Mr. Carl Doane, father of Linda Doane, who graduated from AHS in the late '60's, related to me a conversation he had with Coach Ramsey. Mr. Doane worked at Reeder & McGaughy sporting goods store. Coach dropped by one day when he and Mr. Doane were talking about some of Coach's past players and all the stars who played for AHS. Mr. Doane just happened to ask him, "Who was your best player you had who never started?" Without hesitation, Coach said, "Scottdale. My biggest regret was not finding a position for him." When I got to my car, I broke down and cried, not out of bitterness for not earning a starting position, because we were loaded at every position. Everywhere I looked on the 1963 team, we were three and four deep with talented players. The tears were for the realization that Coach recognized my efforts at practice as well as in games. Second, when Coach died, his family called Ray Myers to ask if we would be pall bearers. Ray called me at my office to relay the request, which I was glad and honored to accept. Ray told me that Mrs. Ramsey told him that Ray and I were two of Calvin's favorite players. Dear Lord, what a compliment! When I hung up, I was sitting at my desk crying. when a co-worker asked what was wrong. I explained what had just occurred, but he wondered why I was so moved. I just looked up at him and said, "You don't understand." Such was the reverence in which Coach was held. During the funeral, as all the pall bearers were sitting there together, I thought, "What an honor. I'm sitting here with some of the giants of Avondale football folklore, Ray Myers, Billy Brice, Bobby Burgess, et al, and I, who was never a starter, am one of the people who will carry Coach to his final resting place." It was an honor to play for him. It was an honor just to spend five years with him in PE classes and activities other than football. His persona permeated that whole school, the band, the drill team, the cheerleaders, the other sports, the teachers, the administration. That's why Avondale was at the top of whatever activity we did. The honor of being one of his pall bearers is one that will never be matched.

How the Blue Devils Reached from Their Improbable Prospects to State Champions
How does a team win the 1963 Class AAA State football championship after returning only one of 11 starters and losing 16 of their 17 top performers? I will attempt connect the dots that started on a hot August practice field, to players who emerged as startling talents, a season-turning play, and the coaching that elevated young players to championship form in a dazzling 13-week period—a team that ended the season loaded and ready to continue competing at championship levels for several more years.

The Preseason Build Up
David Cooper (halfback—AHS 1964) explains: “The making of the championship team started at the beginning of the summer. Glen Johnson, Ray Myers, and several others started meeting at the football field to have fun and get the timing for a variety of plays before summer practice began. As the weeks went by, more and more guys joined in so that many afternoons and weekends, there would be 20+ players at the field working on conditioning, learning plays, and improving the timing needed for a lot of the plays that would be used during the season. The informal practices helped us, not only to improve abilities, but also helped to build a bond between the players that became a major factor in making the 1963 season into a championship season.” Frank Owen, #76 defensive tackle 1963 AAA football State Champion, explains the importance of team spirit: “The true reason that we won the championship was the spirit that developed within that TEAM. We first gathered in the heat of mid August, a leftover bunch from the team that should have won it all in 1962 !!! There were five starters left from that 62" team. Coach Ramsey was so in fear that he would not have a good squad that he went in search of bodies to fill the lineup. This resulted in Stanley Anderson and Ricky Black joining the team. This put the finishing touches on our defense that gave up very few points. The spirit started to grow after the narrow ,7-0, defeat by Westminster, when the touchdown was scored on our punt return unit. We went down to R.E. Lee's place and narrowly beat a team that could have won it all.”

The Dominating Devils Defense
Defensive units typically gel before offenses get into synch—this was the case for Avondale in 1963. Glenn Johnson identifies some changes that improved the defense: “The biggest change on defense was where the formation changed from a 6-2 to a 5-4 defense with only two deep defensive backs. The 5-4 put more line backers closer to the line of scrimmage to defend against the run, since there were not many ‘passing quarterbacks’ in those days. The best move Coach made all year involved the move of Wade Wilkes from fullback to defensive tackle. Since Steve Mills, who was probably the best blocking back to play for Avondale, was solidly entrenched as fullback, so Wade brought a back’s speed to the tackle position. Although he was good at stopping the run, he was a holy terror on passing downs. The opposing offensive linemen were not used to seeing Wade’s speed, so he broke down many pass plays with his rush on quarterbacks. This move solidified a dominating defense that had to rank at the top, considering just our last six games (the last three regular season and the three playoff games) only one team, Decatur, even scored on us, with a point total differential of 214 to 14 points!” Glenn reported the impressive record compiled by the Blue Devils defense: “In 13 games only, four TD's were scored while the starting defensive unit was on the field. That's how dominant our defense was. Even if you count all the scores, 66 points in 13 games is pretty impressive-- a little over five points per game. Even if you count the two TDs scored against me while I was playing defense in the Southwest DeKalb game, there were still only six TDs scored by the opponent’s offense-- less than half a TD per game. The other three TDs were scored off of two fumble returns and a kickoff return. I don’t know if there has ever been a more dominant defense at that level. What’s amazing is that the best two teams we played, R.E. Lee and Westminster, never scored a TD against our starting defense. In both the regular season and playoff games, Westminster never scored on our defense.” Frank Owen reveals a commitment the defense made to the offense: “Our defense decided that we were not going to allow points and it was up to Ray Myers and the rest of the offense to get at least two touchdowns. The defense was a group that knew what each player was going to do and moved as a unit.” A good illustration of knowing this was made in the Moultrie game when they threw a long pass and got inside our ten-yard line. According to George Veal, Coach Ramsey gave an ultimatum, “I don't care what defense you call, just make sure you stop them’. Fortunately we did.” Glenn describes how our defense stopped Moultrie’s one threat to score: “About half-way through the second quarter Moultrie was on our 4-yard line. They ran an off-tackle play with Joe Linder carrying off their left tackle --our right side-- there was a hole you could drive a Mack truck through. But just as he got to the line of scrimmage, out of nowhere appeared one Mr. Frank Owen. I don't know if he put a spin move on the blocker or just pushed him aside, but he appeared in the hole and tackled Linder for little or no gain. This was one of the three best tackles of the year for our team. The first was Stanley Anderson's hit on the R. E. Lee runner who fumbled and set up our winning TD, the second was the tackle David Cooper made on Tommy Chapman in the Westminster playoff game that cut him in half, and this one.” Frank Owen recalls the play where he made the stop: “This was to be a trap play-- I was to be the trap target. George Veal and I called it as soon as they got to the line. George slid inside to make the tackle, but I got rid of the pulling guard to make the tackle. Our SPIRIT kept us together and we were dedicated to winning the state championship. This is truly one of the biggest and best accomplishments of my life.”

A Potent Offense
Glenn Johnson gives an inside look at the organization of the team: “The 1963 football season was more than a rebuilding year, since Coach Ramsey installed a new offense and defense. The offensive changes were not so drastic, involving a shift from a ‘double wing T’ formation featuring two slot backs to a ‘wing T’ with only one slot back with the other back (David Cooper) lined up next to the fullback (Steve Mills) as in a normal ‘T’ formation. This alignment gave the opportunity to run ‘dive’ plays into the interior of the line by the halfback, which could not be done with two slot backs. Initially the slot back position was set up as a 3-man committee with Steve Allen, Andy Odom and Lanny Asamoto. About half way through the season Coach installed a split end formation where the ‘weak side’ end (opposite the slot back side) would split out like a split end in the pros. Steve Allen moved to the split end position to take advantage of his speed, which paid off with touchdown pass receptions in the Moultrie game. Eddie Sanders, the regular weak side end, moved to defense where his ferociousness was an asset. With those changes, Lanny and Andy manned the slot back position with Lanny getting most of the play on offense because Andy was a stalwart on defense. These changes allowed optimal use of Blue Devil talent while keeping players fresh. We had the best stable of running backs in the state that year with the four Seniors and several Juniors and the best pair of fullbacks in Steve Mills and Wade Wilkes. The only concern we had was finding people to block for them. The entire interior offensive line was manned by Juniors who had just moved up from the B-Team. The only Senior linemen played the end positions. The coaching staff did a great job of getting these guys ready to play. Coach Ramsey was good at finding positions for players who showed the willingness to work hard.”

Steve Mills gives much credit to David Cooper: “We would not have the opportunity to play for a state title, if it were not for David Cooper. A lot of the reason Lanny Asamoto, Mike Colvard, Andy Odom, Steve Allen and I had success running the ball was that every defense we played against was geared to try to stop him.”

Any running back will acknowledge that a strong offensive line is essential to a productive running attack. Glenn tells how a green corps of linemen developed quickly into a mighty force: “Suffice it to say, we would have gone nowhere were it not for the fine line that we had, on both sides of the ball. What amazes me was how quickly they jelled on offense and became a unit that couldn't be denied. Why the amazement? Just look at who they replaced-- Bruce Bell, Jimmy Cooley, Butch Falligant, Mike Slye, and Dayton Johnson not to mention the two ends, Almand and Smith. These raw, wet-behind-the-ears linemen, fresh up from the B-team-- David Bentley, James Sharp, Ed Spencer, George Veal, Bill Johnson, and our ‘toy cannon’, Bruce Mather-- became two-year starters and the only Avondale line to remain intact and play in two state championships. THAT'S why our offense worked so well. That line worked with such precision and tenacity that when they blocked someone, they stayed blocked. Lanny went crazy with his long dashes during the last half of the season because our line made such devastating trap blocks, the best I ever saw at any level. It helped that we had the best stable of backs that ever existed on one team, but those linemen made the back’s jobs a lot easier. Steve Mills, when he wasn't running the ball, was also a devastating blocker. Ricky Black and Eddie Sanders were great down-field blockers, which is why we had so many long runs in '63. Once the back cleared the line of scrimmage and the linebackers, he had pretty much clear sailing because of their down field blocks. In the Brown game, David Cooper scored on two long runs without being touched as a result of the down field blocks that Ricky and Eddie made. We were strong at every position and had great depth. My fantasy was to quarterback the first unit for just one series. Alas, it wasn't to be. Whenever we got a big enough lead, Coach Ramsey would make wholesale substitutions to let everyone play, and I never got to play with the first unit. I guess a state championship is a good consolation. My hat is off to you guys. It was great playing with y,all.”

The Tackle, the Fumble, the Touchdown That Created the Opportunity to Win a Championship
Glenn recounts the season-making tackle made by Stanley Anderson against R.E. Lee: “ Stanley’s tackle created the ‘fumble’ and that was recovered by Eddie Sanders on the Lee 34. That tackle was so important that we would not have won the championship without it. Chances are good that the 1963 championship trophy would have ended up in the R.E. Lee trophy case instead of ours. Stanley and Eddie created the opportunity to win, but our offense still had to complete an eleven-play drive to win the game with only seconds left on third down—our final opportunity to score-- when Steve Mills crashed over from six yards out to score. After the game, Coach Cavan brought a helmet to the dressing room to show Coach Ramsey. He said, ‘This is the reason y’all won the game.’ The helmet he held had a broken face mask and a crack in it. Coach Cavan added, ‘The ball carrier had a broken jaw because of the hit.’ The testimony and evidence presented by Coach Cavan proved that Stanley delivered a ‘bone-jarring tackle’ that was a game-changer and even a season-changer.” Steve Mills describes the Blue Devil’s challenge after Stanley Anderson forced a fumble with a helmet-shattering tackle when trailing 3-0 late in the game. “We managed to score with less than a minute left to win, 7-3. For the first time all year, Coach Ramsey asked Ray Myers, the quarterback, what play Ray wanted to run.” Ray Myers tells the story: “After R.E. Lee fumbled on the 34, we drove 28 yards to the six-yard line in ten hard-driven plays on what seemed to be the longest drive. Coach Ramsey called time out and went out to talk to me about what play to call. Coach asked, ‘What do you think will work, Ray.’ I responded, ‘Well coach, they've been keying on David Cooper all night long. I think we ought to run Mills up the middle.’ Coach responded, ‘Run it’.” Glenn picks up the action: “As Ray prepared to take the snap, the Lee linebackers saw Cooper go in motion and followed him, leaving the middle open. When Steve hit the line, he spun off the blocks of James Sharp and Bill Johnson then he fell into the end zone on third down with about 40 seconds left in the game.” Steve Mills gives the most authoritative view of his touchdown: "The fullback plunge off tackle was an odd play to call since we needed six long yards against such a stout defense. Nonetheless, the line opened the hole, I bounced off one potential tackler and we scored the winning points.” After the game Glenn realized, “We knew there was nobody else in our region as good as us or R. E. Lee, so when we won that game, we knew we were on our way. A lot of people grew up in that game. We went from a young, inexperienced team to contenders for the state championship. We may have beaten Moultrie in the championship game, but we were set up to win the championship the night we beat R. E. Lee. The die had been cast the two previous weeks after the close win over Gordon and the loss to Westminster.”

Coach Ramsey and His Staff
Sportswriter Charlie Roberts recognized the greatness of Coach Ramsey, “As one of Georgia’s Greatest coaches through the years, and the Blue Devils as one of the really great all-time elevens.” Coach Ramsey earned this distinction by taking a young team, threadbare of experience, and building a team that, by the end of the season, was bristling with talent that cut a dominating path through the playoffs to the 1963 Georgia State AAA football championship. Just some of the methods that Coach Ramsey and his staff implemented through a disciplined team, are described here:

• Masterful identification and use of talent to optimize each player’s effectiveness. He modified lineups that enabled players to be rested and fresh. When the Blue Devils had a lead, the subs would be sent in to gain experience and to be ready if needed as a replacement.
• Steve Mills pays tribute to the Scout Team players and the role they played in Avondale’s success: “A group that played a big role in this team’s success was the Scout Team. These were the younger and lesser skilled guys who rarely got in the game unless we had an overwhelming lead. Each Monday the coaches would distribute a detailed scouting report describing the other team's formations, personnel, favorite plays and tendencies. Sometimes the reports were 20 pages long. We were expected to know it backwards and forwards by Tuesday. The Scout Team was responsible for assuming the other team’s identity and gave us the repetitions we needed to know how to attack the opposition. The last three games against Briarcliff, Southwest DeKalb, and Druid Hills allowed these guys to be rewarded with some playing time for coming to practice every day and working every bit as hard as the regulars. Many of us who were playing had put in our time on the Scout Team in previous years and got some true game experience that was a bonus in helping us to get where we were.”
• Coach Ramsey knew how to motivate-- George Veal recalls the preparation for the R. E. Lee game, “All week long, Coach Ramsey preached the fact that no Avondale team had ever lost two games in a row. Did we want to be the first Avondale team to endure this disgrace? This gave all of us some extra motivation, and we would need every ounce of it against an excellent R.E. Lee team.” Glenn explains how Coach Ramsey wisely changed his build-up for the Lee game later in the week: “Coach Ramsey always built up our opponent to make sure we never got over-confident. Against R E Lee, however, he took a different tack. I think he sensed that our confidence was a little shaky after losing to Westminster, so on Thursday during our classroom session to prepare for the game, coach said, ‘I think we can go down there and beat Lee.’ Words can't express just how much that meant to us and how much it lifted our spirits. That's a part of Coach Ramsey's technique that often gets overlooked. That was the only time I ever heard him speak in such a positive manner about our chances against an opponent. He knew when to quit building up the other team and when to build up the confidence of a group of boys whom he turned into men."
• Glenn tells how Coach Ramsey got the team “up” and focused for the Moultrie game: “Coach Ramsey gathered the whole team together to tell us about Moultrie. To give usan idea about their ability he said, ‘I think R.E. Lee, only Moultrie is better.’ That scared us to death, but it was his way of making sure that we didn’t get over-confident.”
• Since David Cooper was keyed on by every defense, his selective use of David as a “decoy” opened up the running game to the extent that defenses had no good choices on which runner to cover. This allowed Lanny Asamoto to bring a long-distance running threat to the offense with his “Asamoto shuffle”. All that Lanny needed was a brief sliver in the line and he was gone, thanks to a host of blockers with precise execution. Steve Mills provided his superb blocking to free the runners and reliable runs into heavy traffic for good yardage.
• Avondale successfully used a two-quarterback system in 1963. Steve Mills explains the ways that quarterbacks are used most often: “Most teams, and especially the good teams, have one quarterback who takes about 95% of the snaps while games are in doubt. That had been the way at Avondale for years with these quarterbacks-- Sam Taylor in 1957, Frank James in 1958-59, Ed Pritchett in 1960, David Neville in 1961, and Tommy Leslie in 1962. The 1963 team had two quarterbacks who shared the position about 50/50. Ray Myers was a senior who was the better passer. Mike Colvard was a junior who was the better runner. Both were good leaders, and both were integral to our success. Using two quarterbacks rarely works, but it did for us. In the final playoff game with Moultrie Mike Colvard had suffered an ankle injury and could not play, so Ray Myers played by far the best game of his entire career”.
• Steve Allen added to the headaches of defenses with long pass receptions and touchdowns thrown by Ray Myers. Steve was not content to just excel on offense. In the first Decatur game he made three interceptions, then made two touchdown in the Cross Keys game on a 54-yard run in the first quarter and a 45-yard pass from Ray Myers. ? Our advantage began with coaching—fundamentals, discipline, commitment to win, and identifying flaws or tendencies just to name a few. Also, the scouting reports thoroughly prepared Avondale with special insights to each opponent’s tendencies and weakness that could be exploited. George Veal identifies a critical observation that our coaches made that exploited a Decatur weakness: “Since we had already met and defeated Decatur during the regular season, Coach Ramsey detected a flaw in their defense, so he installed a ‘lonesome end’ offensive formation. The flaw was that Decatur didn't adjust their defense to our ‘over shift’, where we line up with more players on one side of the ball. For example, we would line up with two players to the right of the center (guard and tackle) and with four players to the left of the center (end flanked out to left, end, tackle and guard). When we lined up in an over-shifted formation, Decatur would not adjust to it . This would give us the advantage of having an extra blocker on the over-shifted side. We would run the ball to the over-shifted side where, we in effect, had an extra blocker. It was like having an extra man on the field. If you have two teams that are equal, but you give one of them ‘an extra man’, that team is probably going to win. It worked like a charm for us. By the time Decatur figured out what was happening, we were ahead two touchdowns. The roll out of the unbalanced formation, which Decatur had never seen, gave us an offensive edge.”
• George Veal explains how the defense was able to stop Decatur’s star running back, Walter Chadwick: “Once again, the coaches came through for us when they had noticed that, if Walter would put his right hand down, he was going to run to the right. If he put his left hand down, he was running to the left.” Steve describes the effectiveness of the defense: “After the opening kickoff, our defense slanted in the direction of Walter Chadwick's initial move, so we were able to absolutely crush their offense. It was almost like being in the huddle with them as they called their plays. Our defense was outstanding anyway and, although this gave us more of an edge, we completely shut down Decatur in the first half. All night long we slanted our defensive line in the direction of Walter's hand to where he was going to run, but they never caught on.“
• Steve Mills reveals an observation the coaches made that paid off in the playoffs: “Westminster ran what we call a multiple offense, that is, they ran plays out of many different formations. Our coaches discerned, from watching film, that they only ran one or two plays from each formation-- so if you could identify the formation, you had a pretty good idea of the play they were going to run. So if we could figure out the formations, we stood a better chance of stopping them.” George Veal tells the story of the flash cards used during his week of preparation: “ The coaches diagrammed each Westminster formation on a flash card. They would hold one card up then I would call out the likely play and say what defense we wanted to call. There must have been about 30 cards. The coaches would pull me out of study halls and even classes to drill me over and over again. I would stay after practice and drill some more. By game time I knew these formations and the defenses to call backwards and forwards. As I recognized formations and barked defensive signals, there were no creases left inside for Buzz Wisdom or Earl Seagraves to run. When Tommy Chapman tried to get outside, Steve Allen, Brad Johnson or Andy Odom turned him back inside where he was mauled by our pursuing inside players.”
• Another example is given by Steve of how our coaches had a plan to exploit a tendency they observed by Moultrie’s defense: “The coaches noticed how quickly Moultrie's defensive backs reacted to offensive flow in one direction. In the hopes of taking advantage of this tendency, our coaches installed a new play. David Cooper would go in motion to the right, starting the flow in that direction. Ray would take a couple steps to his right, then pivot, then bootlegging back to his left. Steve Allen, our tight end, would start on a route toward the goal post, then plant his foot sharply and break back toward the flag at left side of the end zone. As the fullback, I took a step to my right then countered back left to block the defensive end. It took a real strong arm to make that throw across the field, but Ray had a gun. Hopefully, we would have a chance to use this play.” Glenn describes an offensive play that was put in to take advantage of Moultrie’s defensive set: “Moultrie ran an ‘eagle 5-4’ defense, where the nose guard had the two tackles on either side and with the ends flanked out, leaving gaps filled by two linebackers. The linebackers and tackles just switched alignment relative to our offensive line . Coach Ramsey put in a play to run Mills to the weak side (away from the wingback) through the hole between our offensive tackle and end. David Bentley would block the linebacker who was playing off the line in the gap. As it turned out, Mills gained 6 or 7 yards the five or six times he ran it, and Mills finished the first drive with a TD. We wondered why no other coach saw the flaw in their defense, but Mills had a great night—they couldn’t stop us.”
• Glenn says that one of Coach Ramsey’s talents that gets overlooked is his ability to pick a staff. “Coach Ramsey was the Director of Athletics, so he had a hand in choosing not only football coaches but coaches in other sports-- and he always picked good people. Coaches Meyer and Goza were the varsity line and back coaches respectively. When the regular season was over for the 8th grade and B-team, these coaches worked with us throughout the playoffs. They did a splendid job assisting the varsity staff. Coaches Tank and Morrow were the absolute best in the state when scouting our future opponents. There's still a debate about whether they worked alone, alternatively, or in tandem. Suffice it to say, we knew everything about every opposing player at every position, their strengths, and their weaknesses. Ramsey was years ahead of other coaches in that regard. The Moultrie players didn't know what a scouting report was, according to the players we talked to after the game. Each coach had his own personality and skill set. Coach Meyer was the rah-rah guy, always spurring us on during practices and games. Coach Goza was the analytical one with a dry wit. He also sat in the booth during games and talked to us on the phone to point out something he saw or to call a play. Coach Morrow was a mini-Ramsey (he was physically a giant of a man) all business, which was what was needed to get the B-team players ready to move up to the varsity when the time came. Coach Tank was a task master who had a brilliant football mind. His 8th grade teams almost always went undefeated, and he really prepared those guys for advancement to the next level. When Tank graduated AHS, he and Coach Ramsey weren't on the best of terms because of an incident on the track team his senior year. When he applied to teach at AHS, he personally went to Coach Ramsey and asked to be a part of the coaching staff. Coach Ramsey accepted him back and he became an important cog in the coaching staff and the pipeline of talent. When Coach Tank related this story to me, he told me he never wanted to coach for anyone else. Coach Ramsey would have been successful regardless of who his staff was, but these fine men made his task a lot easier.”

David Cooper’s “Rock”
Anyone, who knows much about David Cooper, would continually be amazed about his odyssey through life. David explains how he, and others, were fortunate to have Rocky Adams play a prominent part in his life. In this Christmas season of “giving”, we shall see that Rocky, himself, was truly a “gift”. David’s story is an example of the special people we had in our community, who stepped up to help when needed and positively influenced lives: “I want to tell about some of the off-the-field help that many of the players received during the years at Avondale. During the '62 football season, when my family was having a lot of problems, my mother was getting divorced and financial problems had my mother thinking of moving back to North Carolina. I was working at Roadway Express after practice and weekends, where part of my job was steam cleaning the trucks. When I put the steam cleaner down to check on something, the pressure jumped and the steam cleaner hit me in the face. It burned my face and eyes so badly that I was rushed to the hospital. They bandaged my burns and contacted my mother and Coach Ramsey. They told me and Coach Ramsey that I would have to keep the bandages on my face, including my eyes, over the weekend and to return first thing Monday morning. Sometime over the weekend Coach Ramsey, Jack Almand, and Wally Cochran met with my mother to see if they could help out in some way-- I found out about this over a month later. The doctor took the bandages off that Monday, and told me that my eyes were healing but that my vision was about 20/50 to 20/70 and would improve as my the damaged corneas of my eyes healed. When I asked about football practice, he turned to the coach who drove me there and told him that I could practice to whatever extent that the pain and vision would permit. That afternoon, we practiced in shorts which helped me to not miss any practices. The only real problem was catching kickoffs and punts. On one punt, I misjudged it so badly that I had to jump back about two yards to catch the ball. That play was rewound ten times so everyone could get a good laugh. I did look pretty spastic.”
This is how Rocky came into David’s life: “Coach Ramsey informed me that I was not to go back to my former job at Roadway Express. I told him that I had to work because we needed the money. He said that he had a new job for me and that Tommy Carlisle would take me to the job site and introduce me to the boss. That was when I met Rocky Adams. Over the next two years he became the father figure that I had never had. I learned later that they had provided jobs for my brother and mother so that we would be able to pay our bills. Over the next two years, I learned that Rocky was often called on by the coaches and boosters to help students from Avondale. The bond between Rocky and myself became so strong because I needed more help than most others emotionally and morally—and he was always there for me. He had his faults, like everyone else, but he had a bigger heart than anyone I have ever met. He and his wife, Ann, treated me like a son.”

Rocky’s patience and kindness was shown in two instances: “I always did everything at full speed. This was good in sports, but not always good working. For example, one day Rocky sent me to deliver a special-order bathtub. It was an oversized expensive tub that had to be delivered across town. I was driving so fast around a curve that the tub was slung off the truck and busted into on the road. I put the pieces back on the truck and headed back to Southeastern knowing that I had lost my job and probably would be hated by everyone. Rocky was standing on the dock with his arms folded and asked what had happened. I told him and waited to hear him tell me to leave and that I was fired. However, Rocky looked at me and asked, ‘Did you mean to do it.’ I humbly replied, ‘No Sir.’ He started laughing and said that he did not think that there was anything that I could not tear up. He had more patience with kids than seemed possible. Someone, either Mickey Lingle or George Arndt, told Rocky that I did not go to the dances after ballgames because I did not have nice clothes to wear. One afternoon Rocky said for me, ‘Go get into my car,’ and we headed out. I assumed that he was taking me to a job somewhere, as he often did. Instead he pulled into a mall, and we went into a clothing store. Where he introduced me to a man he said was his tailor. I expected that the man was going to tell me that he had some type of work for me to do, but Rocky told him to fix me up with three pairs of pants, three sports coats, shirts, ties and anything else he thought I might need. I whispered to Rocky that I did not have any money. He just laughed and told me, ‘If you are going to places with me, you have to be dressed appropriately.’ He helped numerous students from Avondale. The only two times I ever took personal days from work were extremely sad, because they were to attend Coach Ramsey's and Rocky's funerals. I cherish this opportunity to tell people what a good man and good friend to Avondale Alton "Rocky" Adams was. I single Rocky out, because he meant so much to me personally and many other kids from Avondale. There were many people, including the Lingle family, that went out of their way to help the kids from Avondale. That's why I feel that the entire Avondale community has to be recognized as contributing to the success of our '63 Championship-- from the Cheerleaders, Drill Team, Flag Team, Band, Pep Band, and all of the many fans that supported us that entire season.”

This and That
Stanley Anderson knows that the Blue Devils were a great team by the end of the year and shares opinions of a few players: “First, Glenn Johnson played his position as kicker and scout team quarterback as well as anyone on the team, and probably better than most of us. The friendship between Glenn and Ray Myers is more valuable than a championship and has lasted a lifetime and will never end. We would not have won without David Cooper’s excellent play or without Steve Allen’s ‘do-it-don’t-just-say-it’ leadership. David was by far the best player I saw that year, on any high school team. But Bruce Mather stands out after all this time as the most remarkable player on the team, and he was probably the smartest player, too. Bruce was always getting beat up by the much bigger players that he faced, but he was rarely beaten, in practice or in a game. I also believe that he was the most beloved and respected player on the team, as well. Bruce was remarkable, and probably still is. I am thankful for the terrific support that was given to all the players, coaches, staff, fellow students, teachers, other special teams such as cheerleaders, band, flag team, majorettes, the support of the local companies and the public in and around Avondale.”

The Greatest Years of Our Life
Cliff Smith reminds us that the winning did not end with football in December 1963: “The AHS baseball team, like their football compatriots, achieved a NUMBER 1 ranking in the state in the spring of 1964! For me, that senior year will always be....."one-four-one". Incredible achievements-- FIRST in football, FOURTH in basketball, and an unexpected FIRST in baseball, remarkably earned! I don't know, but statistics may show, that our class's accomplishments for all sports for one year may probably rank among the BEST EVER!” George Veal makes a most profound, concluding statement to our series: “After the championship game, I remember celebrating then going home. I sat in my chair after Mom and Dad had gone to bed, and I thought, ‘Damn, I can't believe we did it. We are the State Champions, the best in the state of Georgia.’ Thus, ended one of the greatest years of my life.” All who were fortunate to share the experience of Avondale “rising again in 1963”, would agree with George…this was the best year of our lives…and the memories never grow old.
Gerry Lingle—AHS 1960 Steve Mills—AHS 1965
GLENN JOHNSON—AHS 1964 George Veal—AHS 1965
David Cooper—AHS 1964 Frank Owen—AHS 1964
Stanley Anderson—AHS 1964 Stephanie Strand Blomeyer—AHS 1964
Lanny Asamoto—AHS 1964 Steve Allen—AHS 1964
Eddie Sanders—AHS 1964 David Bentley—AHS 1965